THE former owner of Karma West in Kendal travelled to Hull to take his own life, an inquest heard.

David James Walters, of Tebay, died at the age of 50 on July 9, 2019 in Hull Royal Infirmary after falling from the Humber Bridge, Cockermouth Coroner's Court was told.

His first wife Debra Esterhuizen told the court in a statement that the Rugby-born man was known as 'Hippy Dave' to his regular customers and that he struggled with his mental health.

"I was concerned regarding his mental capacity when he was with the two girls," she told the court.

"I don't think David was ever really happy with himself.

"I almost expected it to happen. I don't know why he would go there to end his life though."

The keen festival goer set up Karma West, which was his ambition, but soon got bored of this, according to his second wife Jayne Walters, who learned of his depression in the first few months of their relationship.

Their relationship broke down after running the 'hippy shop' together.

A nurse, from Birmingham and Solihull mental health trust explained that Mr Walters was assessed by them after attempting to take his own life in May 2019.

Police in Hull were called to Humber Bridge after a pedestrian saw a man falling from the bridge, coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw praised the emergency services who managed to rescue him within 30 minutes of the call. He died from multiple traumatic injuries, the pathologist reported, despite the hospital staff's best efforts.

The death was concluded as being a suicide by the coroner.