Tributes paid to ‘kind and friendly’ quantity surveyor who died at the cliffs near Eastbourne

Lee Carpenter died at Beachy Head on November 29 last year, an inquest heard.

The inquest at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday (March 18), heard Mr Carpenter, a quantity surveyor from Walsall in the West Midlands, had a history of severe depressive episodes.

Norman Carpenter, Mr Carpenter’s father, said, “He was a kind and friendly person, he would help anyone.”

The inquest heard Mr Carpenter spoke to his parents on November 29 before his body was found by police at 9.45pm that night at the cliffs.

Norman Carpenter said he suspected is son was struggling with pressures at work.

He said, “Lee’s job was mentally draining.”

Mr Carpenter had been sectioned for two weeks in 2018 for severe depression, but had been discharged from mental health services and seemed to be improving, the inquest heard from his GP.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze ruled that Mr Carpenter took his own life.

• If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, the Samaritans may be able to help - the charity’s helpline number is 116 123.