A POLISH upholsterer was found dead under a railway bridge close to Trowbridge railway station, an inquest was told.

Szymon Piotr Szyma, 41, was under the bridge in Innox Mill Close by police who were called to the scene on Wednesday, February 15 last year.

Wiltshire and Swindon Senior Coroner David Ridley was told paramedics confirmed Mr Szyma’s death at midday.

The inquest in Salisbury on Friday (February 2) was told Mr Szyma, of no fixed abode, had stayed overnight in a tent, and a rucksack was found nearby containing a bottle of vodka and a bottle of tonic.

A post-mortem found Mr Szyma’s blood/alcohol levels would have put him 2.5 times over the drink/drive limit, the inquest heard.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Mr Ridley said: “There is absolutely nothing to suggest that he was helped or anything like that. I am satisfied that he intended to take his own life.

“He was a troubled man and had probably what we would term demons that he tried to battle. Szymon was not comfortable with who he was.”

Mr Ridley heard evidence that Mr Szyma was a recreational user of cannabis but had also previously taken crack cocaine and heroin.

His sister Jadwiga Szyma said she had found him a job at the newsagent’s shop in Roundstone Street where she worked and some accommodation owned by her boss’s family.

She had tried to help her brother overcome his drug and alcohol problems but said he was acting strangely before his death.

Before he died, he had sent a two-page note to her in Polish apologising for making a mess of his life and for the problems he had caused her.

As her brother’s behaviour deteriorated, she asked her mother for permission to withdraw support because she felt she was no longer able to help him with his issues.

The day before his death, Mr Szyma was asked to leave the flat in Eastbourne Road, Trowbridge, where he lived because of his behaviour and anger issues.

At 10.30am on the day he died, Mr Szyma telephoned the boss’s son to apologise for his behaviour but the man did not return his call.

Recording his verdict, Mr Ridley added: “It is quite clear from the evidence that he was loved and supported by the family.

“But even you became tired and your mother became tired and not able to see any progress being made.”

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