Father Aaron Deeley died after falling from Southend Hospital window as family demand answers

A father-of-four who was reportedly suffering from hallucinations smashed a hospital’s third floor window and plunged to his death.

An investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the death of Aaron Deeley on Friday after he fell from the window of Southend Hospital.

His grieving family are now demanding answers after they say the hospital assured them he would not be left unsupervised as he was admitted following an attempted overdose.

Mr Deeley, 43, was suffering from depression and had been taken to A&E three days earlier where he was kept for 24 hours before being moved to the acute medical unit on the third floor of the hospital with severe liver damage.

Mr Deeley, from Canvey, sent a text to his wife Michelle in the early hours of Friday morning.

His family claim he was hallucinating and believed he was going to be arrested and imprisoned, prompting him to punch his bedside window, shattering the glass, before he fell to his death.

Father-of-four Aaron Deeley died after falling from a window at Southend Hospital after being admitted following an overdose prompting his family to ask why he was left on his own

The father-of-four was described as 'one in a million' in tributes shared by family after his death

The father-of-four was described as ‘one in a million’ in tributes shared by family after his death

Michelle’s sister Louise Collins told the Southend Echo he was ‘not thinking straight’ due to the drugs from his treatment.

She added: ‘I can’t even put into words our anger at the hospital. We are absolutely disgusted.

‘After being promised that he was going to be watched 24/7 we have been completely let down. What happened?

‘They weren’t thinking of his mental health, it feels like they didn’t care despite being warned to watch him, and he was just left unsupervised to do that.

‘We feel absolutely devastated, there are just no words. He could have got better, had he been watched, he could have got better, he just didn’t get the chance.’

The family has claimed a security guard who was responsible for watching over Aaron finished his shift at 9pm and was not replaced.

The Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust has confirmed it is investigation the circumstances surrounding Aaron's death after his family say they were assured he would be watched 24/7

The Mid and South Essex Hospital Trust has confirmed it is investigation the circumstances surrounding Aaron’s death after his family say they were assured he would be watched 24/7

Louise said: ‘It’s so awful. We were telling Michelle ‘he’s alright, he’s safe, he’s in hospital, and that wasn’t true.’

The trust has confirmed it has opened an investigation into the death.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed they are also investigating and said: ‘We were called at around 1.30am on Friday 14 January to an incident at Southend University Hospital.

‘A man had been found injured and, sadly, he died at the scene.

‘We are carrying out enquiries to establish the circumstances leading up to the incident but at this stage have not identified any third party involvement.’

Paying tribute after his death, Aaron was described as a ‘one in a million’ man and ‘the best dad ever’ by his grieving family.

Flowers have been left at the scene where Aaron died outside Southend Hospital on Friday

Flowers have been left at the scene where Aaron died outside Southend Hospital on Friday

Michelle Deeley, who had been married to Aaron for 12 years, said in a tribute shared online on Friday: ‘You were the love of my life, my soul mate and kindred spirits today.

‘You have left us and I can’t believe it. Love u always and forever.’

The Canvey father-of-four leaves behind his loving wife Michelle and children Hunter, 20, Alexis, 14, Destiny, 11, and Jason, 10. 

His sister-in-law Louise Collins said: ‘It’s such a tragic loss because Aaron was the best dad ever. My sister didn’t have to worry for anything, she had Aaron and he was just her and the children’s whole world.

‘We as a family knew she was always alright because she had Aaron. He didn’t have a single bad bone in his body, he was just an amazing man who absolutely adored his kids and his wife.

‘Aaron was just one in a million, he really was a lovely man. Always had a smile on his face and was a delight to know.’

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