A retired museum manager who “stepped in front” of a lorry outside a hospital died partly due to a “delay in alerting” the right people he had left.

Kevin Brice passed away in February 2022 from fatal head injuries after being struck by a vehicle in Hermitage Lane, Maidstone.

An inquest into his death was previously opened but was adjourned until the police were able to establish the full details leading up to the incident.

Last week a full hearing resumed with a jury sitting for six days at the town’s Oakwood House.

At its conclusion on Tuesday (February 13), jurors said the 57-year-old died from suicide after he “intentionally stepped in front of a moving vehicle” at around 8.20am on February 1, 2022.

Their spokeswoman added: “This is in part due to a delay in alerting the appropriate parties of his departure from Maidstone Hospital.”

No parties involved in the hearing were blamed for these delays and legal representatives for all said there have been ongoing discussions between them.

Assistant coroner Catherine Wood added she would not be writing a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report as she thinks “a lot of work” has already happened among the organisations involved.

Speaking after the conclusion, a spokesman for the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said: “Our thoughts and sympathies are with Mr Brice’s family, and we are deeply saddened by the events surrounding his death.

"We are grateful for the findings of the inquest on this complex case and will review the coroner’s findings carefully, ensuring we continue to work closely with our partner organisations and take all opportunities to learn and improve.”

Throughout the week, the court heard Mr Brice, who is from Aberdeen in Scotland, but grew up in Maidstone, was staying in the town as he was appearing in court. It was not revealed what he was charged with.

In written evidence from his wife Gwen Black, the inquest heard how on the first day of his trial, Mr Brice was distressed after seeing his ex-wife and son, whom he was estranged from, in the public gallery.

She said when her husband, who had struggled with his mental health in the past, returned to the Airbnb rental they were staying at said: “He could not carry on”.

Her statement said she woke up during the night and found Mr Brice holding a knife to his throat, leading her to call the emergency services – with the police arriving at around 12.40am on February 1, 2022.

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time or visit www.samaritans.org.

The two officers, PC Hill and PC Genery told the court they were there “to safeguard the paramedics and Mr Brice”.

While they waited for the ambulance crews to arrive, their colleague called a specialist co-ordinator who advises on mental health cases.

In his evidence, PC Hill said they were told to wait for the paramedics and let them take the lead.

Questions were raised as to why the officers did not enact Section 136 of the Mental Health Act which gives powers, outside of a person’s residence, to detain and take them to a place of safety, usually a hospital.

PC Hill explained they did not think it was necessary as Mr Brice voluntarily went to the hospital to seek psychiatric help and while admitted was seen by medics at A&E.

Following Mr Brice’s death, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation after receiving a mandatory referral from the force to see if appropriate action was taken by officers and was in line with their policies.

A spokesman said: “Our investigation found no evidence to suggest the cause of Mr Brice’s death was attributable to the actions of any of the officers involved.

“We found that no officer behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence.”

Throughout the inquest, the court played the officers’ body-worn footage which showed the former Aylesford resident in the psychiatric assessment room attempting to leave before being stopped.

At around 4am, the jury was told Mr Brice was seen by a doctor who cleared him physically and he was referred to the mental health team.

The court heard he was then seen by two mental health nurses, from the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, just after 5am who told him he would need to see a consultant later in the morning.

An hour later the police officers left Maidstone Hospital because PC Hill said Mr Brice had been “seen by the right people and was in the right place”.

The father remained in the psychiatric room in the A&E department, which the jury heard was “extremely busy”, and in the care of the hospital staff and security.

It was not until around 8am, when the night staff had handed over, that Mr Brice left the hospital and “stepped out” in front of a lorry. He died from his injuries at the scene.

The court heard how during that time Ms Black had left the room to go to the toilet and on her return alerted staff he had absconded.

Emergency services, including police and ambulance crews, rushed to the incident close to Maidstone Hospital and the road was shut for around six hours.