Family's moving tribute to a '˜risk taker'

A family has paid tribute to a Dunstable father of two who died in woods in Luton.

Ian Morris, aged 35 of Chiltern Road, is believed to have auto-asphyxiated after being found with a belt around his neck in Wigmore Park on November 1.

Assistant Beds coroner Ian Pears heard that Mr Morris, who had small amounts of alcohol and cocaine in his system, liked the ‘rush’ the constriction gave him.

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His wife, Dr Angel Chater, said she knew her husband carried out the practice but had only recently found out he was doing it on his own.

She told the inquest: “I knew Ian inside and out and he was in a really good place. Maybe on this occasion he had not stopped what he was doing in time and he passed out.”

Recording a verdict of accidental death Mr Pears said: “I understand the ligature was at a length that he could stand if he wanted to. Something went wrong that he hadn’t catered for.”

After the inquest Dr Chater said of Ian, who worked as a mobile vehicle paint technician: “He was a character, everyone knew him and everyone loved him.

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“If we had known that he was doing this on his own, making it so dangerous, we could have tried to do something ourselves to prevent his death.

“But ultimately, I don’t think he would have stopped doing it, as it was something that he enjoyed, like riding his motorbike fast in the rain, but there may have been ways that it could have been made safer and we would still have his wonderful energy in our life.

“He just pushed the boundaries of getting ‘high’ to a dangerous level, tragically on his own in a secluded spot... typical Ian, no fear and dire consequences. I also hope that one day, Ian’s story can help others, on so many levels both to prevent death and to encourage those who may have lost a loved one in this way, to speak out, without the fear of judgement.”

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