Rugby player committed suicide after leaving hospital

Former Premiership rugby union player Nick Koster took his own life while on leave from a mental health hospital where he was voluntarily admitted, an inquest heard.

A hearing in Norwich was told the 34-year-old Bristol and Bath player had left the premises in Attleborough, Norfolk, on July 11 last year after asking to do some shopping.

Mental health nurse Charles Mwangi said there was “no indication that he was suicidal or that his mental health had deteriorated” and that he smiled as he left.

The athlete was found dead hours later, after failing to return at the agreed time of 4:30pm BST, having left the scene at around 2:30pm.

Mwangi said changes have been made and now the names of those leaving the site and the time they should return are displayed on a board that can be seen more easily.

Samantha Goward, coroner for the Norfolk area, explained that Koster was able to leave Priory Hospital Norwich when he wanted, as an “informal patient”, but had an agreed care plan.

The sportsman, who made 62 appearances for Bristol between 2013 and 2017 after a short spell at Bath, lived in Norwich and began struggling with his mental health in March 2023.

The coroner said Koster contacted his GP and was given antidepressants before two voluntary admissions to mental health units – the second to Priory Hospital Norwich on June 14 last year.

She said director of operations Koster “wanted to get better” and “complied with treatment.”

In a statement read out during the coroner’s inquest, mental health nurse Vikramsing Damree said Koster excused himself to go to the town of Attleborough because he had “a few little things to buy”.

Damree said Koster “said he slept well and was looking forward to being discharged the next day.”

The nurse said she completed a five-point risk assessment and arranged a return time with Koster.

Damree said he took a break at 5.50pm and when he returned at 6.30pm he was informed that Koster had not returned from leave.

The inquest heard that Koster’s wife Jeanie tracked the location of his phone, which indicated he was in a rural area between the hospital and Attleborough.

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In his last phone call, which took place at 3:47 pm, he told his father that he was going to buy snacks.

Ms Goward said it was “not possible to say” calling the police earlier would have changed the outcome” as his actions after that call were not known and he was not due to return until 4.30pm.

Recording a narrative conclusion, she said Koster “died due to a deliberate act, but his intention was unknown and his thoughts may have been impaired by his underlying condition”.

The time his death was officially confirmed was 9:11 pm.

The coroner expressed her condolences to the family members who attended the hearing.

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