Coroner's Finding: de-identified EW
Demographics
18y, male
Date of death
2022-08-16
Finding date
2025-06-30
Cause of death
Death by suicide; cause cannot be definitively determined as body not recovered, but circumstances indicate jumping from Tasman Bridge resulting in blunt force trauma and/or drowning
AI-generated summary
An 18-year-old male with depression and anxiety died by suicide on 16 August 2022, jumping from the Tasman Bridge. He had been diagnosed with depression and anxiety in January 2022, saw a psychologist six times, and was prescribed antidepressants. His parents believed he was improving in the two months before death, though his mood worsened in the final month. Friends noted he was struggling with suicidal ideation from November 2021 onwards, but he presented as improving to his GP in July 2022 and appeared cheerful at work. The coroner found the death could not have been foreseen or prevented given his private nature and inability to seek necessary help despite treatment and support offered. The case highlights ongoing suicide risk at the Tasman Bridge and the need for structural safety modifications.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Drugs involved
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- depression and anxiety
- suicidal ideation from November 2021
- perceived lack of improvement despite treatment
- social isolation and withdrawal from friends
- inability to seek help from family and health professionals despite offers of support
- low safety barriers on Tasman Bridge
- accessibility of bridge at all times
- discrepancy between presentation to healthcare providers and to friends
Coroner's recommendations
- Government should urgently implement structural modifications to the Tasman Bridge with a key aim of eliminating suicides at the bridge
Further listening
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