Inquest concludes Shaun Ward's death was accidental

An inquest into the death of Shaun Ward, of Fairland Terrace in Hingham, heard that the 32-year-old was in a coma for five days after he accidently consumed poisonous mushrooms in October last year. 

Evidence provided to Norfolk Coroner’s Court from Mr Ward’s mother, Jenna Ward, was read out to the court. 

Mrs Ward's statement said: “Shaun went foraging in the wild, picking berries and other wild mushrooms. He picked the wrong thing and ended up in hospital as a result of what he had consumed.  

“He was in a coma, and we thought then that we might lose him. The doctor said he may have brain damage when he came out of the coma, but he recovered.  

“After this, he seemed to be ill an awful lot though and had chest infections, ear infections and was just generally more unwell, and had a lot more time off work, sick.  

“It was as though it had weakened his immune system.” 

A report from Dr Shaun Conway, of Hingham Surgery, revealed that Mr Ward attended an appointment around three weeks before his death on April 11. 

Dr Conway said: “During his last consultation, the main thrust was about the distress he had felt since his accidental mushroom overdose in 2023.  

“He was troubled by insomnia, seeing visions of mushrooms and distressing recall of his dead brother. He was tearful.” 

Following the appointment he was prescribed a low dose of antidepressants to help with his sleep. 

Shaun Ward loved the outdoors (Image: muchloved.com)

A MUCH-LOVED BROTHER

The court also heard that Mr Ward struggled with anxiety from 2015 and was left “devastated” following the death of his brother Arron in 2016. 

Mrs Ward added: “This was obviously devastating to the whole family, and Shaun did struggle with this. However, he was supported by the whole family. 

“The loss of his brother is what had impacted him the most throughout his life. 

“He would speak about Arron an awful lot and used to say he took on a part of his brother when Arron passed away. 

“He did suffer with some mental health problems after. 

“He was with the wellbeing clinic initially and struggled to sleep and would often have nightmares. He was on medication to help him sleep.” 

A TRAGIC DISCOVERY

On the evening of May 4, Mr Ward had spent some time with his parents before they went to bed. 

He stayed up playing on a games console with friends then, shortly after midnight, went for a ride on his motorbike.

Although not unusual for him, he was suffering with an ear infection at the time. 

The court heard he messaged a friend to say he might visit them, but he had not been aware that the friend had recently moved and the message was not picked up until hours later. 

On May 5, Norfolk police were informed that a motorbike appeared to have been abandoned on a farm track off Hingham Road in Reymerston, in the vicinity of Reymerston quarry, near Dereham. 

Officers arrived around 1pm and found the motorcycle along with several personal belongings strewn across the ground. 

Soon after, Mr Ward’s body was discovered lying in a shallow section of the river. Paramedics declared him dead at the scene. 

Mrs Ward confirmed this was an area he would often explore with friends and his brother, when he was younger. 

READ MORE: Tragedy on Marston Marshes... young father's suicide as he waited for help

READ MORE: To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost

A post mortem, which also referred to a toxicology report, heard that Mr Ward had consumed a quantity of alcohol “sufficient to impair cognitive behaviour and motor functions”. 

Medications that may have caused “excess sedation” when taken with alcohol were also present. 

The medical cause of death was given as “drowning due to cognitive impairment due to alcohol and sedatives”. 

An additional statement added: “The level of sedation caused by the sedatives and alcohol would have been such that he would not have felt any discomfort. He would have been asleep and would have passed quickly.” 

Norfolk’s senior coroner, Jacqueline Lake, said: “During the evening of May 4, Shaun was seen in the evening by his parents. 

“They spoke with him and he seemed fine. There were no concerns with regard to his mental wellbeing at all. 

“There was no indication that he had concerns or was thinking of taking his own life. 

“The evidence does not reveal how Shaun entered the water or came to be in the water. 

"To find suicide I must find that there was an intentional act with an intention to die. There is no evidence here that Shaun intended to die. 

“He seemed fine the day before, the evening before. I also heard that he had been drinking alcohol and taking drugs with a sedating effect. 

“On that basis and on the basis Shaun knew the area where he was found, that he would often go to open spaces and he would often sit by water, my conclusion is accident.” 

Shaun Ward loved the outdoors and fishing (Image: muchloved.com)

A TRIBUTE 

A tribute to Mr Ward was read out to the coroner’s court during his inquest. 

It heard that he was born in King’s Lynn on November 27, 1991. 

A family statement from Mrs Ward said: “Shaun was 32 years old and had lived at home with me and his father most of his life.  

“Both me and my husband had a very close relationship with our sons. 

“Shaun worked as a community carer for about 15 years. He was really passionate about his work. He really cared about providing care and support to young adults and people with dementia.  

“We would often go out as a family and Shaun would enjoy fishing and his other hobbies. 

“He loved fishing and was passionate about his motorbikes. His other passion was mixing music, which he had a real talent for.   

“He loved being outdoors. He loved the sunshine, rivers, and all kinds of water.  

“He loved to sit alongside rivers and streams and watch the wildlife and would do this on his own. Mainly this would be when he was fishing but sometimes he would just go out for hours and hours and spend time outdoors.  

“Lots of our days out as a family would centre around being around water. When the boys were growing up, we had canoes. Rivers, boating and picnics were a big part of our family life.  

“Shaun was such a loving and caring, kind son. He loved his job. He was of such a calm nature, never was in any trouble.  

“We will miss our son terribly and are devastated by the loss.” 

Dr Conway added: “Shaun was a lovely, sweet-natured young man and his loss is a terrible tragedy.”