A government climate change advisor died after "throwing himself" from a moving taxi on the NDR during a period of psychosis, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Sidle died in Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge on July 4 last year, three days after he fell from the cab on the North Walsham roundabout while travelling to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital. He was 51.

An inquest into his death resumed on Monday and is due to last three days.

The court was told Mr Sidle first started to experience psychosis in December 2011 and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.

His sister, consultant neurologist Katie Sidle, told the court his condition caused him considerable distress, including fears that aliens were set to take over the world.

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The court heard he had a complicated history of severe mental illness, but for large periods this was medicated and he had periods of stability.

In March 2023 he suffered a relapse and again began to experience acute psychosis.

However, Dr Sidle told the court she had been regularly frustrated in her attempts to help him access crisis care - with the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT)'s crisis team rejecting referrals from her, Mr Sidle's GP and even one of its own departments.

She said that in the days leading up to the incident Mr Sidle had told her he had days to live - and that July 1 was "day zero" of his countdown.

She raised these concerns with mental health services through a number of avenues, but his care was not escalated.

Eastern Daily Press:

Dr Sidle added that insult was added to injury on the day of his death - three days after the taxi incident - when she received a phone call from Norfolk County Council's social services informing her NSFT had said he did not require an assessment.

She said the phone call came "just after saying our final goodbyes".

The court heard that in the days leading up to the incident, Mr Sidle had been reported missing after leaving his home in North Walsham and travelling to Cromer - hitchhiking part of the way.

However, police were able to locate him in the town and returned him home.

The inquest continues.

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