Open verdict on man who fell to his death at Torquay car park

THE coroner has recorded an open verdict at the inquest of a man who fell to his death from the top of a car park in Torquay.

Unemployed fisherman Jason Marels, 29, from Dartmouth, suffered from mental health problems, but left no note on the day he died. He sustained multiple injuries and died instantly when he fell from Level 7 of the Temperance Street car park. Mr Marels was the son of retired police officer Paul Marels, also from Dartmouth, with whom he had played golf on the day of his death.

According to his father, there was no indication Mr Marels had suffered a downturn in his mental health in the weeks or hours preceding his death.

CCTV revealed just after 9pm on July 9 last year Mr Marels got off the bus at Cary Parade and walked up Fleet Street before entering the car park and headed across towards the wall of Level 7.

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A team assistant at Gala Bingo, situated below the multi-storey car park, saw Mr Marels fall. He was confirmed dead by paramedics. Tests found there was effectively no alcohol in his system.

Mr Marels was a paranoid schizophrenic who had been under the care of a Torbay Hospital team.

His father said it was unclear what the catalyst was for the incident. He had been engaging well with his support worker and his medication had recently been reduced. South Devon coroner Ian Arrow said: "On the balance of probabilities I am not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt he intended to take his own life because of his illness."

He recorded and open conclusion.