Inquest into death of teenager found in woods while under care of hospital will explore whether she should have been detained under Mental Health Act

An inquest into the death of a tragic 16-year-old found in the woods while under the care of Royal Bolton Hospital will explore whether she should have been detained under the Mental Health Act.

Evelin Chacko, 16, was found unresponsive in woodland near the hospital on July 13, 2020. She was admitted on July 1 following an overdose at her home in Farnworth.

A pre-inquest review at Bolton Coroners' Court on Wednesday (December 19) was told she had a history of self-harm and suicidal thoughts. She had previously taken an overdose and attempted to fashion a ligature.

Assistant coroner Bronia Hartley heard there are questions over whether Evelin should have been detained under the Mental Health Act.

The court heard she was on a ward for elderly patients with complex needs, rather than a mental health unit. Lawyers representing Evelin's family told the court there was 'real and imminent risk' her mental ill-health put her in danger. She was found hanged after leaving the ward at 2pm.

Analysis of her phone showed she had searched for hanging methods online that day. David Illingworth, representing her loved ones, said: "The family's position remains that there was real and imminent risk to Evelin's life... that the agencies involved in Evelin's care assumed responsibility for her. It's a question of how the system as a whole is functioning - or has not functioned."

Mr Illingworth claimed there was plan in place to detain Evelin under the Mental Health Act if she tried to 'abscond'. "There were plans to section Evelin if she tried to leave the ward and if she did leave," he added. But he said there was evidence of her 'coming and going as she pleased', often for 'hours at a time'.

Fraser Livesey, representing the Royal