Coroner's Finding: O'Connell, Stephen James
Deceased
Stephen James O'Connell
Demographics
74y, male
Date of death
2024-10-02
Finding date
2025-09-12
Cause of death
Drowning
AI-generated summary
Stephen James O'Connell, aged 74, died by suicide by drowning in the Derwent River on 2 October 2024. He had a significant psychiatric history with previous suicide attempts (1997, 2005) and mental health conditions dating to 1973. At the time of death, he was experiencing financial stress and chronic back pain. Evidence indicates he deliberately planned his death, including researching chain weight requirements to prevent body flotation and preparing a will. No medical misadventure or healthcare failures contributed to this death. The case highlights the ongoing risk of suicide in older adults with chronic mental health conditions and chronic pain, and the importance of vigilance for warning signs in vulnerable populations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Clinical conditions
Contributing factors
- Suicide
- Significant mental health history dating to 1973
- Previous suicide attempts in 1997 and 2005
- Financial stress in late 2024
- Chronic back pain
Full text
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