THE FAMILY of a man who was found dead in woodland says he had no known mental health issues and that his death was ‘completely unfathomable’, an inquest heard.

David William Cooper, 39, was reported missing on July 26 with a large search operation taking place the next day when his white transit van was found near Moors Valley in Ashley Heath.

An inquest held at Bournemouth Town Hall on November 23 heard that David had lost his mother in June 2022, but was still ‘functioning okay’.

In a statement to the court his sister Emma Cooper, said he was a ‘kind, caring and a fun loving person’ who had over 200 people attend his funeral.

She said they were very close, speaking every day, and that he enjoyed walking their dog and loved to play with his nephew.

David was living with his sister in Charminster at the time of his death and she said she ‘still cannot believe what has happened’.

“I loved him very much and I will miss him every day,” said Emma.

She said there were ‘no warning signs’ and even now they have found no ‘real reason why this happened’.

“If you knew my brother David you would be equally as puzzled.”

Dr Shelley Carter, David’s GP, confirmed that he had not received any consultations for mental health and had not been on any prescriptions in the six months leading up to his death.

PC James Vincent from Dorset Police said in a statement to the court that at 2pm on July 29, he conducted an area search for a high-risk missing person called David Cooper.

Officers searched a large wooded area near a school in Moors Valley, which PC Vincent described as overgrown and ‘treacherous on foot’.

At around 6.30 pm the officer was alerted to a member of public who had discovered David’s body in a concealed area of the woods.

A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Adnan Al-Badri determined that David died from hanging.

Coroner’s officer, Nigel Underwood, formerly identified David by using a photo given to Dorset Police by his family.

Assistant coroner for Dorset, Richard Middleton, said that David was found on July 29 after being reported missing on July 26.

He concluded that he died from a deliberate act and as a result was suicide.

Mr Middleton offered his ‘deepest sympathies and condolences’ to David’s family and friends, particularly his sister and nephew.

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