Matty Sheldrick

Before HM Senior Coroner Penelope Schofield

Horsham Coroner’s Court, Chart Way, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1XH

Opens Monday 25 November 2024
Scheduled for 10 days (25-29 November, 9-13 December)

Matty Sheldrick, a 29 year old autistic person, died on 22 November 2022 after ligaturing outside the Royal Sussex County Hospital. They had left A&E less than two hours before. Now an inquest will resume to examine the circumstances of their death.

Matty moved to Hove with their rescue dog Lola in 2021. Kind, bright and creative, Matty was studying Social Sciences with the Open University, played guitar, performed spoken word, and was a commissioned artist. 

Matty was autistic and had ADHD. Matty had a history of mental ill-health and self-harm. 

On 5 September 2022, Matty was admitted to A&E at Royal Sussex Hospital following suicidal ideation. They were later moved to the Short Stay ward while awaiting an inpatient mental health bed. 

During their time on the Short Stay Ward, Matty continued to self-harm and to experience suicidal ideation. Matty was discharged from the Short Stay Ward on 30 September into the care of the community Crisis team. Matty was not able to access a mental health bed or therapeutic input while hospitalised.

Following their discharge, Matty’s mental health continued to deteriorate.

On 2 November, Matty called the Mental Health Rapid Response service after ligaturing and while feeling suicidal. Matty was taken to A&E and eventually admitted to the Short Stay Ward. 

Over the next two days, Matty attempted to ligature in the hospital multiple times.

Following an assessment under the Mental Health Act on 4 November, Matty was told they could leave hospital if they wished. Matty left the A&E department shortly after 9pm. 

At around 10.45pm, Matty ligatured outside the hospital. They were admitted to the intensive care unit just after 11pm and died 17 days later.

The inquest will consider the care and treatment received by Matty in the lead-up to their death in both hospitals and the community. In particular, the inquest will investigate:

• Matty’s mental health background
• The care and support provided by Brighton and Hove City Council between February 2022 to the time of Matty’s death
• The events that led to Matty’s admission on 5 September 2022
• The care and treatment provided to Matty during their hospital admission 5 September 2022 – 30 September 2022.
• The care and treatment provided to Matty by the Crisis Resolution Mental Health team and the Home Treatment team following their discharge from hospital on 30 September 2022 to their readmission on 3 November 2022
• The events that led to their admission on 3 November 2022
• The care and treatment provided to Matty from 3 November 2022 until Matty was found hanging on 4 November 2022.
• The care and treatment on the intensive care unit until the time of Matty’s death of 22 November 2022.
• The medical cause of Matty’s death.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information, interview requests and to note your interest, please contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected].

The family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members William Kenyon and Gabrielle Law of ITN Solicitors and Isabel Bertschinger of One Pump Court. They are supported by INQUEST senior caseworker, Selen Cavcav.      

The family are also supported by The Clare Project, a community-led charity providing support for trans, non-binary and intersex adults. Matty received support from The Clare Project during their time in Brighton. They commissioned artwork for the organisation and was a much-loved service user. They are being represented by Sophie Walker and Liam Evans of One Pump Court, with support from Good Law Project.

Other Interested persons represented are Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Brighton & Hove City Council Adult Social Care, GP Practice WellBN, University Hospital Trust and The Clare Project.

Journalists should refer to the Samaritans Media Guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm and guidance for reporting on inquest.

Deaths in the care of Sussex mental health services:

• Morgan-Rose Betchley, 19, died a self-inflicted death whilst a voluntary mental health inpatient at Meadowfield Hospital on 9 March 2023. Morgan was autistic and had a history of mental ill health and self-harm when distressed. An inquest into her death opened on 11 November 2024. Media release.
• Ellame Ford-Dunn, was 16 years old when she died after absconding and ligaturing whilst a mental health inpatient at Worthing Hospital. An inquest into her death was adjourned earlier this year. Media release.
• Jason Pulman, a 15 year old transgender teenager died a self-inflicted death on 19 April 2022 in East Sussex. An inquest found that systemic failures by all of the organisations involved in his care, with the exception of his school, possibly contributed to his death. Media release.
• Jessie Eastland Seares, 19, died whilst an inpatient at Mill View Hospital in May 2022. Jessie was autistic and had a complex history of neurodevelopmental, physical and mental health issues. A jury found that systemic failures in health and social care led to her death. Media release.
• Rachel Garrett, 22, died after falling from a height in Brighton on 29 July 2020. An inquest found that opportunities to save her life had been missed. Rachel had mental and physical health needs and had spent time in the care of Mill View Hospital. Media release.
• The Telegraph reported in January 2022 that more than 360 patients took their own lives after being treated by Sussex Partnership Foundation NHS Trust in the past five years. While there were also 15 coroner’s reports to prevent future deaths.
• Bethany Tenquist, 26, died after ligaturing in her room at Mill View Hospital on 16 January 2019. An inquest found a sequence of serious failures relating to staffing, leadership and safeguarding processes on ward probably had a direct causal connection to her death. Media release.
• Morghana Woodburn, 18, died a self-inflicted death at Meadowfield Hospital in January 2018. Morghana was diagnosed with PTSD and EUPD. She was moved seven times between four different hospitals over the nine months leading up to her death. An inquest concluded that she died as a result of her mental health issues which led her to self-harm. Media coverage.
• Janet Müller, 21, was killed after absconding from Mill View Hospital. The jury at the inquest found there were a number of failings in her care. Media release.
• In 2016, local media reported that five women had died at Mill View Hospital, including Janet Müller (above), Danuta Corbett, Jessica Philpott, Jackie Stansby, and Philippa Mortiz-Parsons.
• Sabrina ‘Sabby’ Walsh, 32, died on the Woodlands Ward in Sussex 2016. The inquest found gross failures and neglect contributed to her death. Media release.
•  Bethan Smith, 31, died whilst under the care of Sussex Partnership Trust in 2011. Her mother wrote this about their experiences.