A MOTHER is demanding answers after her son’s body was found in Newquay Bay less than a day after he had been sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Nicky Lockley, who lives in St Newlyn East, says she was reassured her 32-year-old son Callum Hargreaves was 'safe' after he was talked away from a cliff edge at the Barrowfields by emergency services on Friday at 3.40pm.

Callum was later that night taken into the care of health professionals at Longreach House in Illogan, which helps people in mental health crisis.

But Nicky and her family have been left devastated after she was visited by the police on Saturday at 1.30pm and told Callum's body had been recovered from the sea in the Tolcarne area earlier in the day at 11.30am.

Nicky is angry Callum did not receive the help he needed in the years leading up to his death and does not want the tragic outcome to happen to any other person who is struggling.

Callum had been living on the streets in Newquay since June 2023 as his Sanctuary Housing flat on Mount Wise had been made inaccessible to him after it had been boarded up, which affected his mental health.

He had previously been homeless for 46 days after losing his house key.

Nicky is looking for answers as to what happened so her and her family can start the grieving process.

Nicky wrote a letter to the Voice, which was dated 12.30pm January 23, 2024: “I have had to formulate this statement in order to prevent any gossip, speculation, or general misinformation.

"My son Callum, and all the other people in Newquay, who cannot access help, and cannot make sense of a system that allows vulnerable, desperately poorly human beings to be constantly at risk.

“The mental health team, the police, Treliske Hospital etc do not communicate with each other.

“This is now resulting in fatalities on a regular basis.

"On January 20 my son took his own life, after I, his own mother was reassured he was safe after being sectioned by the mental health team.

“This incident has already been publicly printed that this occurred at 11.35am.

"I, his own mother was notified two hours later, whilst thinking he was sectioned and safe.

“Today January 23 its 10.30am.

"I have had no contact with anyone regarding the death of my son, almost three days, not knowing, how, why, where my son had left his secure section.

“I am aware he couldn’t have been discharged under Section and also his housing association flat, with fully paid-up rent had also been made inaccessible for him to be released to by the housing association and if my son had been discharged it could only have been to my address, as next of kin and that didn’t happen.

“Myself, my family, Monique and friends are now going to pursue every single aspect of this tragic, totally avoidable loss of life, and he was not the only one.

“My son was desperately asking for help, and I was reassured he was safe and secure, and three days later to be no wiser as to what happened just highlights the intensity of the problems within this area now.

“Yesterday Cornwall Council contacted myself to ask to speak to Callum, my deceased son.

“Today I had to contact Longreach Hospital where my son was supposedly safe only to be told there was no manager available to discuss what happened to my son.

"This is three days now.

“This is just the beginning of what could be a very long, upsetting and emotional journey for our family but Callum’s death will not be in vain, and we shall leave no stone unturned.

“Rest in peace Callum.

"As poorly as you were you told us you knew they had failed you and this was all you could do now.”

A spokesperson from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are truly sorry to hear about Mr Hargreaves’ death and would like to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends.

“We will undertake a thorough review of Mr Hargreaves’ care and treatment, which we will share with his family. It would not be appropriate for us to comment further until this process has concluded."

A Devon & Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to Tolcarne Beach at around 11.35am on Saturday, January 20, following a report that a body had been seen in the sea.

“A man aged in his 30s was recovered from the water and he was confirmed as deceased at the scene. 

“The man’s next-of-kin have been informed.

"His death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

“Police had previously been called to reports of concern for the welfare of a man at Narrowcliff in Newquay at around 1.20pm on Friday 19 January.

"The man was engaged with by officers, taken to hospital and subsequently handed into the care of health professionals. 

“Devon & Cornwall Police has made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), as is normal procedure in these circumstances.”

Longreach and Sanctuary Housing have been contacted for a comment.

Cornwall Council did not wish to comment.