A young man described as a 'funny, genuine, good guy' took his life hours after learning he had lost his job, an inquest has heard. 

Simeon St Fort, from Reading, was just 22 years old when his body was recovered from the River Thames near Caversham Bridge on May 28 this year. 

Mr St Fort was due to work over the May bank holiday but failed to turn up to work, an inquest into his death at Reading Coroner's Court heard today (Thursday, September 26). 

He was notified that he'd been dismissed from his job. Hours later, CCTV footage showed Mr St Fort walking back and forth along the Reading bridge before jumping into the water.

Priya Malhotra, assistant coroner for Berkshire, told the court Mr St Fort's brother contacted the police in the early hours of May 27 after being sent a worrying message from him. 

Mr St Fort had written: "I have reached total mental deprivation and I am not strong enough to fix it. Every part of my being loves you. Thank you for looking after me and looking over me. You have been my champion."

The court heard Mr St Fort was last seen at around 10pm on Sunday, May 26, and was supposed to be at work over that weekend but did not turn up. The employer had sent a notification that they were dismissing him.

Police found his mobile phone was active until 4.42am on May 27, when he disconnected in Church Street, Reading.

Thames Valley Police officers later recovered a jacket and a pair of glasses from the Caversham Bridge which Simeon's family confirmed belonged to him.

Detective also reviewed CCTV footage reviewed which showed Simeon "walking back and forth along Caversham Bridge".

He was tragically recovered from the River Thames the next afternoon. 

A post mortem report found that the cause of death was drowning.

Delivering her conclusions at the Berkshire Coroner's court in Reading, coroner Malhotra recorded Mr St Fort's manner of death as suicide.

She said: "I am satisfied in this matter that the deceased is Simeon St Fort, who sadly passed away at the age of 22.

"His death was confirmed on May 28, 2024, and the place of death is the River Thames at the Caversham Bridge in Reading.

"On May 27, 2024, the deceased was seen in CCTV entering the River Thames. He was recovered the following day."

News of Mr St Fort's passing in May prompted a raft of tributes from devastated friends.

Paying tribute to him previously, friend Jaydon Bakermault wrote: "Simeon was one of the funniest people in our year in secondary school, such a genuine person that brought that air of laughter whichever class he was in."

Dylan Smith added: "[He was] such a genuine guy, gone too soon. [I] had many laughs with him throughout school."

While Ike Prince Morris described him as a 'good guy who would always brighten the room'.

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