Nick Jones was being treated at a specialist rehabilitation unit An "adrenalin junkie" who was in a wheelchair after a mountain bike accident suffocated himself in a hospital toilet, an inquest has heard. Nick Jones, 34, from Cilgerran, Ceredigion, broke his neck when he fell and hit a tree in the Brechfa Forest in Carmarthenshire in February. His mother told the Cardiff inquest she knew two weeks before he died that her son was 'determined' to kill himself. Coroner Mary Hassell recorded a suicide verdict. The hearing was told that three days before he died, doctors told Mr Jones he would need a wheelchair for the rest of his life. The painter and decorator had lost the use of his legs and most of the use of his arms and was being treated at Rookwood Hospital, a specialist rehabilitation unit in Cardiff, the inquest heard. With the little bit of grip he had, he squeezed my hand - I knew at that point - I didn't know how, or when, but I knew he was determined.

Nick Jones' mother, Sandra Spinal injuries consultant Clive Inman told the inquest Mr Jones' condition had been improving, but he said: "Although he had regained some power in his arms and legs, it was not enough to be independent." Mr Inman said Mr Jones may have been able to walk in the future, but only for short distances, with the help of a frame. He said: "To help him go longer distances, he would need to use a wheelchair, which he had already been using for some months in the hospital." He said Mr Jones did have enough strength to put over his own head the plastic bag he used to suffocate himself in a toilet cubicle at the hospital on 24 August. Clinical psychologist Claire Davies said Mr Jones had been pleased with the start of his recovery but was also "realistic" and told her he was "not expecting miracles". 'Suicide' She said during a meeting on 21 August, Mr Jones "went very quiet" when she told him he would need a wheelchair permanently. Mr Jones texted friends that day to say that as an "adrenalin junkie" he did not want to be left immobile, the hearing was told. One read: "I feel sick imagining the rest of my life dependent on others. It's just not me any more." He also left instructions about his funeral, the inquest heard. His mother Sandra said she realised her "fun-loving" and "active" son was depressed during a trip home two weeks before his death. Mrs Jones said: "I asked him: 'Have you ever thought about suicide?', and he said: 'Every day'. "Then he said: 'But I wouldn't do that to you, Ma.' "I said: 'If you ever get to that dark place, think about number one.' "With the little bit of grip he had, he squeezed my hand. I knew at that point. I didn't know how, or when, but I knew he was determined. 'Inner strength' "He said: 'I love you, Ma'." Coroner Ms Hassell said: "Nick had finally come face-to-face with the prospect of a wheelchair being present in his life, and being his main mode of transport. "For him, clearly this was unacceptable. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Nick intended to take his own life." After the inquest, Allen Jones, of the Wheelchair Users' Group charity, said: "In the first year of using a wheelchair, people get very angry and upset, and think 'Why me?'. "Some people find the inner strength to go on, but others do not. It is a very difficult issue to deal with, and is extremely sad."



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