A man whose dead body was found in water at The Rye told police he wanted to end his life because he was a “burden on society” just a month before he died.

The body of 30-year-old Barry Ward from Marlow Bottom was discovered in The Dyke at the High Wycombe park in front of horrified families during half term on October 27 last year.

Detective Carl Wilson from Thames Valley Police told the inquest that Mr Ward had contacted police on two occasions prior to his death saying he wanted to “end it all” in a “cry for help”.

Bucks Free Press:

The inquest in to Barry Ward's death was held at Beaconsfield Coroner's Court today.

However mystery still surrounds Mr Ward’s death, as the inquest heard there is unsatisfactory proof to draw a conclusion despite evidence suggesting he may have taken his own life.

In June 2014 Mr Ward told police he wanted to jump of a bridge, and in September 2015 he contacted police again saying he wanted to jump in the Thames but “did not have the guts” to kill himself.

The inquest heard that both instances were treated as a cry for help and Mr Ward was referred to the social services.

A post mortem indicated that there was no alcohol in Mr Ward’s system, no indication of other major injuries or third party involvement and there were no signs of a struggle to get out of the water.

Bucks Free Press:

Detectives at the scene on The Rye in October

A statement from acting police sergeant, James Surmon, was read out to the coroner’s court, which recalled how he had entered the water in an attempt to save Mr Ward’s life.

The statement said: “At around 12:46 I arrived at the boat house and was waved over by a member of the public.

“I could see a body of what looked to be a male in the water but I couldn’t work out if it was moving.

“In an attempt to preserve a life I went in to the water to try and drag the body out and administer CPR.

“I jumped in but the river bed was sucking me in deeper and the water was up to my neck.

“I swam out to the body water and grabbed him [Mr Ward] by the shoulders and got the other officers to thrown a line in to the water and pull me in. It was clear he was deceased.”

Bucks Free Press:

Detectives at the scene on The Rye in October

Mr Ward was said to have had problems with alcohol before his death and had been living in a studio flat since June, but had previously been sleeping on the streets in Maidenhead and Marlow.

In a final statement assistant coroner, Crispin Butler, said the conclusion of the inquest is left open.

He said: “We have medical evidence to show he drowned.

“There is no evidence of a third party involvement or injuries and there is no evidence which indicates how he came to be in the river.

“There is a lack of satisfaction with an open conclusion .We can rule things out however I am not satisfied the high standard of proof is met.

“I can’t establish he took his own life and we have no witnesses who may have seen a fall. Therefore I have to leave the conclusion open.”