Inquest: Death of musician Colin Currie found collapsed near West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds was an accident

The death of a man who believed he was a reincarnation of Jesus Christ was due to an accident, a coroner has decided.

Twenty-six-year-old musician Colin Currie died in hospital three days after being found collapsed near West Suffolk College in Bury St Edmunds.

Following a three day inquest at Suffolk Coroner’s Court in Ipswich, Suffolk Area Coroner Jacqueline Devonish today (Thursday) recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

Police called to an area known as The Dip on the evening of August 22, 2017 initially thought that Mr Currie may have been the victim of a robbery but enquiries later ruled out the involvement of anyone else.

Doctors at West Suffolk Hospital found that Mr Currie suffered a head injury. He died as a result of a bleed on the brain.

The inquest heard that Mr Currie had a history of mental health problems and was admitted to the hospital’s psychiatric unit on six occasions.

Mr Currie, who admitted to self-medicating using illegal drugs, previously had repeated episodes when he believed he was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and had been told to kill people.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Albert Michael said it emerged soon after Mr Currie’s first hospital admission that he had used amphetamines and cannabis and drank heavily.

Each time Mr Currie ended up in hospital his symptoms appeared to be more severe and he became more violent, said Dr Michael.

Mr Currie had been detained by police on July 17, 2017 after assaulting his mother and attempting to strangle a man at a cashpoint.

Initially Mr Currie was detained at a secure mental health unit in Ipswich and kept away from other patients because of his violent behaviour and psychosis.

When Mr Currie was released, he was unable to go back to his mother’s home in Bury St Edmunds as she said she feared for her safety.

Temporary acomodation for Mr Currie was found at a homeless shelter in Ipswich.

Mr Currie’s mother, Bernadine Scott-Currie, described her son to the inquest as sensitive, who loved writing and playing music and who was a champion of the underdog. As he grew older, Colin had found life increasingly difficult and had problems sleeping.