Body washed up at Normans Bay

Christopher Bulbeck, from Woking, Surrey, was found partially naked by a man staying at a nearby caravan park on June 15.

Mark Girvan, community services manager for Surrey NHS, said Bulbeck had a considerable history of mental illness going back seven years which had resulted in hospitalisation on occasion.

He added Bulbeck, a bus driver, had been unable to work for years because of his condition.

Mr Girvan last saw Bulbeck on June 8 when he had been feeling well and said he was happy with his medication.

Coroner Alan Craze heard how Bulbeck visited his mother in Bexhill fairly regularly and used to call her every Sunday.

His mother became concerned when he did not call and reported him missing.

The body had been found days earlier and Bulbeck's relatives were able to identify him.

Coroner Alan Craze recorded an open verdict but said suicide was a possibility.

He said: "There's no evidence to turn this into a probable suicide.

"He did have a history of poor mental health and seems to have gone into the sea fully clothed.

"But at the same time there is no record of previous suicide attempts."