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Published:
March 13, 2009
Body of churchgoer was found
washed up on Burnham-On-Sea beach
 An
inquest heard this week how a psychotic churchgoer drowned after
being swept out to sea as he tried to baptise himself - and his
body was later found washed up on Burnham-On-Sea beach.
Gary
Lane, of Clarence Road North in Weston, walked out into treacherous
waters off Anchor Head, near Weston, last May after apparently
being told in his prayers to cleanse himself, an inquest heard.
He
plunged into the sea off Weston Bay and was immediately caught
up by deadly currents and killed.
The
43-year-old was found a day later, on May 5th at 6.30am, floating
face down in the water near Burnham-On-Sea jetty and the body
was retrieved by a Burnham lifeboat crew (pictured) and Coastguards
- as first reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com here.
His
father, Dennis, told a coroner's court in Bridgwater that his
son was suffering psychosis, and was described as a 'complex case'
by doctors.
Dennis,
who lives with his wife in a flat under their son, said: "If
a thought went into his head that he had to do something, then
he had to do it no matter how bizarre it was. I believe during
his prayers it came to him to baptise and freshen himself. I think
he walked to the sea and went for total emersion, not releasing
the currents."
"He
took his keys with him because he wanted to come back, I don't
think he entered the sea to commit suicide."
He
explained how his son suffered increasing mental illness after
being taken off epilim to treat his epileptic fits. Leading up
to his death he had attempted to commit suicide, taking an overdose
of drugs while staying in an Uphill bed and breakfast.
The
body on the beach was confirmed as Gary's and a pathological test
found he had died from drowning. Coroner Michael Rose called the
case "tragic" and offered his sympathies to Gary's parents.
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