Family of Middlesbrough urban explorer finally given inquest date (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
Send us your pictures, video, news and views by texting DST to 80360 or email us
Family of Middlesbrough urban explorer finally given inquest date
4:27pm Thursday 18th October 2012 in News By Joanna Morris
HOTEL DEATH: Jim Smith fell to his death from the roof of his hotel
THE FAMILY of a man who died in Thailand have finally been given a date for his inquest – more than two years after his death.
Jim Smith, 30 and from Middlesbrough, died following a fall from the roof of his hotel in Bangkok in August 2010.
It is believed he was exploring the rooftop at the time. Speculation around the circumstances of his death coupled with a lengthy wait for his inquest caused his family great distress.
An appeal in The Northern Echo led to Mr Smith’s parents, John and Carol, being invited to Teesside Coroner’s Office where they were told a shortage of admin staff was behind the delay and assured that the case would be rushed through.
Mr Smith said: “We have now received a date and that would not have happened without the help of The Northern Echo.
"This is another milestone for us, we are not looking forward to it, but we will be happy to get it over with.
"It is a shame it took getting the press involved to get this done. We are happy to get a date, but what about the hundreds of people who are still waiting?”
An inquiry into The Teesside Coroner’s Service is underway after figures revealed the average wait to process an inquest on Teesside was 43 weeks, compared to a national average of 26.9 weeks.
