The death of a businessman whose body washed ashore more than a month after his clothes were found near a beach remains a mystery after a coroner ruled there was insufficient evidence to establish what had happened.
Mark Hadley, 61, went missing on the Easter bank holiday weekend this year and his possessions, including running shoes and a towel, were found in a bag hanging on railings close to a slipway.
The married father of two was a strong and experienced swimmer who took part in triathlons and normally stayed close to land when he went for swims in the sea.
But an inquest heard he had received distressing news shortly before his disappearance which left him a ‘shell of himself’.
His body was found five weeks later on a beach in Walcott, Norfolk, around 13 miles from where his belongings had been left in Beeston Regis, near Sheringham.
The inquest in Norwich heard Mr Hadley, the co-founder of radio communications business Link Radio Services Ltd, had gone alone to his family’s caravan at Beeston Regis Holiday Park after receiving the devastating news as he thought it would be helpful to spend some time alone.
No suicide note was left and there was no other evidence suggesting he intended taking his life.
Mark Hadley, 61, went missing on the Easter bank holiday weekend this year
Decomposition meant it was impossible to establish how he died, with blood and urine unavailable for toxicological testing.
Assistant coroner Maeve Sykes recorded a narrative conclusion this week as there was too little evidence to provide a definitive answer about what happened in Mr Hadley’s final hours.
The mystery began on April 5 when Mr Hadley’s belongings were found at Beeston Regis.
The coastguard launched a search of the area but no one was found and the contents were initially treated as lost property.
It was only the following day when his family reported him missing after not hearing from him for two days that a link was made with the bag.
An extensive search was launched but there was no sign of Mr Hadley.
His remains were finally found by a member of public on the beach at Walcott on May 11 and his fingerprints were used to confirm his identity.
The businessman’s possessions, including running shoes and a towel, were found in a bag hanging on railings close to a slipway at Beeston Regis, near Sheringham in Norfolk
The married father of two was an experienced swimmer and also kept fit running and taking part in triathlons
Mr Hadley, who lived in a £600,000 four-bedroom detached house in Great Ellingham, near Attleborough, set up his business in 1991.
It provides radio communication options for personal, business or leisure use on a local or national level.
He had previously worked in the Royal Air Force for nine years as an airfield communications and radar technician.
The inquest heard the businessman, who described himself as an experienced manager of people and a leader who worked well under pressure, was highly active despite suffering a heart attack and stroke.
He ran more than 60 miles every month, went swimming regularly and took part in triathlons.
Mr Hadley’s family described him as a ‘glass half-full’ character who also enjoyed cycling, eating out and socialising with friends and family, as well as spending time at the family caravan with his wife, Sarah.
But Mrs Hadley, 66, described how he had been left feeling ‘very low’ after receiving bad news – details of which were not revealed at the inquest – and the family believed letting him spend some time alone at the caravan would be of help to him.
Assistant coroner Maeve Sykes recorded a narrative conclusion
They contacted police on April 6 after they were unable to contact him for two days.
His Audi Q4 was parked at the caravan site and his phone, which checks showed had not changed location since he was last in contact with his family, was on a charger inside.
The bag containing the clothes and shoes was then confirmed as belonging to him and checks of his online activity showed he had researched tide times.
Announcing her conclusion on Wednesday, Ms Sykes said: ‘The cause of death could not be established. There was no suspicion of third-party involvement.’
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