Manchester woman went on bike ride complaining she ‘felt hot’ but never came home

An inquest heard how a ‘helpful and caring’ woman from Manchester went on a bike ride after complaining she ‘felt hot’ but never came home.

Rachel Jackson, 38, from Didsbury was found dead in Averham Park, Preston, a day after she was reported missing.

The artist was staying with a friend at the time but left the house for a bike ride after complaining she was feeling hot.

An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court, on Thursday July 13th, heard Rachel had travelled from her home to Preston on March 30th this year, to visit the mother of her four-year-old nephew, Lucy Nowak.

They had visited the park and played in the play area before returning to Lucy’s home, Lancs Live reports. Rachel told her friend she had been feeling unwell and was seen by mental health services the day before.

Lucy said Rachel was worried about a letter she had received from HMRC and ‘had not been her best’ since returning from a holiday in Barcelona. She stayed at Lucy’s house that night and spent the following day laughing and joking around with her young nephew.

At around 7pm she told Lucy she was feeling hot and left to go out on a ride out on her purple bike.

After she didn’t return, Lucy tried to call her but got no answer. This was not unusual for Rachel as sometimes she would forget to charge her phone, Lucy said.

Lucy then contacted emergency services and a missing person inquiry was launched with an immediate search which included a police helicopter and LFRS drone being deployed in the area around Avenham Park, along with officers on foot.

The next afternoon at around 3pm, Rachel’s bike was discovered in a wooded area and her body a short distance away in dense woodland.

Greater Manchester Police Detective Inspector Simon Gray confirmed there was no criminal activity or third party involvement in Rachel’s death. 

The inquest also heard of the talented artist’s battle with mental health. In a statement, her friend Lucy said she believed Rachel had been struggling with undiagnosed ADHD and was seeking an assessment. However, she found it hard to keep appointments and had been caught on long waiting lists.

Another friend said Rachel had attended hospital in crisis but had to wait three weeks for a follow-up call. The inquest also heard how Rachel was upset after her aunt had died from cancer.

Rachel’s mum Jacqui spoke of her daughter in happier times, describing how she would throw glitter around and pull people up for a dance. She also said Rachel was the oldest daughter in a close-knit family of siblings

She said: “She was always trying to help other people. She loved her artwork and her family. At her funeral everyone was dressed in rainbow colours. She went off in a campervan with rainbows all over it. There were hundreds of people there.”

Coroner Kate Bissett recorded a conclusion of ‘suicide’. She said: “She was clearly not well and had a number of concerns on her mind.

“I have no doubt that happy Rachel, who was in better health, would not have acted in this way and she had friends and family who would have helped her if she had reached out.”

Help and support lines for people struggling with their mental health:

Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.

CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They’re open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.