Asda worker who took own life in store was not found for three days | UK News

The body of an Asda employee who had been ‘let down’ by mental health cutbacks was only found three days after he had taken his own life at work, an inquest heard.

Phillip Huntley, who worked at the Asda branch in Bodmin, Cornwall, for 17 years, was discovered by a colleague on May 4 this year.

Shoppers were immediately evacuated from the supermarket in Launceston Road and it was shut down for the day.

Police pronounced the 55-year-old dead at the scene and said his death was not being treated as suspicious, reports CornwallLive.

The inquest heard how the dad-of-one had a 25-year history of mental health issues and had been signed off from work with depression twice in the six months before he died.

Colleagues described how Mr Huntley – who was waiting for an appointment to address his anxiety and depression – had become ‘more introverted’ and ‘quiet’ in recent years since a relationship breakdown.

His father Huw told the inquest he ‘could not believe’ the three-month waiting time was within the target and believes his son should have been deemed a high risk by doctors.

Phillip Huntley’s death

Mr Huntley worked from 3am to 11am on the same days and shift pattern every week, according to other staff members who said they always knew when he was due to be in.

He last clocked in for work on Monday, May 1, which is also the last time he was seen on CCTV footage.

Co-workers reported him as having left early that day, which prompted his line manager to make a welfare call, but he did not answer the phone.

When Mr Huntley did not show up for work the following morning, further concerns were raised and an employee went to his house to check on him – but he wasn’t home. 

The next two days were his days off.

At around 1pm on Thursday, May 4, his body was discovered by a shaken colleague in a rarely-used staff wellness room.

Police rushed to the store and it was temporarily closed before reopening the following day – much to the anger of local residents who criticised the decision as ‘putting profit above everything’.

‘Let down by mental health service cutbacks’

Mr Huntley, who had self-referred for help on several occasions between 2007 and 2023, was signed off with depression at the end of 2022 and then again in March this year.

In recent months, he reported to his GP that he had been suffering from ‘severe’ depression, suicidal thoughts, anxiety and signs of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD).

He pleaded for ‘intensive help’ during one phone call and his referral was triaged.

After self-referring on March 1, he was given an appointment for June 3, which is three months later – but still technically within the ‘target waiting times’ for the service.

Because he was not considered ‘high risk’, Mr Huntley had to wait for the assessment with the NHS talking therapies.

But his dad Huw felt GPs were not able to determine how at risk patients were on the basis of a phone call and said he ‘could not believe’ the three-month waiting time is the target.

Huw said his son should have been a ‘high risk’ and blamed cutbacks to mental health services, telling Emma Hillson, assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, that he was ‘let down’.

Ms Hillson recorded a verdict of suicide at the inquest on November 15.

‘This is on the basis of his long and documented history of depression and anxiety for which he had sought assistance and was awaiting an appointment,’ she concluded.

If you’re struggling with your mental health or need to talk to someone, you can call, email or chat online with Samaritans 24 hours a day.

You can speak to Samaritans via 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or use an online chat here.

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