A MAN took his own life at the site of a well-known aqueduct in Wrexham.

Matthew John Collins, 33, was found dead in undergrowth below Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Trevor on June 29.

At County Hall in Ruthin on Monday (December 7), an inquest into Mr Collins’ death heard that he died from injuries he sustained from a fall from the aqueduct.

The inquest heard that Mr Collins, of Ffordd-Y-Berllan, Towyn, left his keys, driving licence and phone in a pram that was left on the aqueduct.

The court heard that Mr Collins, an optician by trade, had been to see his doctor four days prior to his death where he was said to be highly anxious and in a “state of distress” and was expressing thoughts of self-harm.

Mr Collins, a father of a young child, was prescribed an anti-depressant, sleeping tablet and medication to help cope with panic attacks.

On the morning of June 29, a man walking his dog along the aqueduct found the empty pram and concerned someone may have fallen went to inspect the area below it.

He found a man, later identified as Mr Collins, in undergrowth directly below where the pram was situated on the aqueduct - but despite the presence of the pram there was no child at the scene.

Paramedics attended at which point Mr Collins’ death was confirmed at 10.45am.

A post-mortem examination into Mr Collins’ death found no evidence of alcohol in his system, and only evidence of the medication he’d been prescribed days earlier.

A pathologist’s provisional cause of death was recorded as chest and abdominal trauma.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, said that it would have been clear to Mr Collins what the result of falling from the aqueduct would be, and with his belongings being left in a pram there was enough evidence to record a conclusion as such.

Mr Collins is described by his wife, Holly-Marie, as a “loving and devoted husband and father”, but that he was prone to worrying even about the “slightest things”.

In his career as an optician, Mr Collins is said to have been very well thought of by his colleagues and patients alike.

Anyone experiencing thoughts of self-harm can contact the Samaritans’ 24-hour helpline on 116 123.