An inquest into the death of 22-year-old animal rescuer Bailey Lister has been scheduled to open at Blackpool Town Hall on 29 October, a pre-inquest review heard this week. The hearing is expected to examine his state of mind in the days leading up to his death and will include evidence from the local mental health trust.
What the coroner will consider
Assistant coroner Louise Rae set the date and has reserved the following day as a backup sitting. The inquest will consider material from the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, which provides mental health services across the Fylde coast, and a review the trust has completed into the care provided to Mr Lister.
“The inquest would cover ‘how Bailey was thinking, feeling and behaving in the days up his death’,”
The trust will be represented at the inquest and a representative confirmed that the review into Mr Lister’s care has been completed and will be made available as part of the proceedings. The author of that review will be called as a witness.
Background and community response
Mr Lister, who ran a small-animal sanctuary from a site in Hambleton when he was younger, was found dead at home in May. A post-mortem examination established the cause of death as hanging. Friends and supporters have maintained his death followed a prolonged period of online abuse and hostility which they say escalated after he was evicted from the land he used for the sanctuary.
He had been known locally for rescuing and rehoming small pets including hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and birds. In recognition of him, Blackpool Tower was illuminated in blue following his death as tributes were paid across the town.
Practical information about the inquest
- Pre-inquest review location: Blackpool Town Hall
- Inquest start date: 29 October (reserve date 30 October)
- Evidence expected: mental health records and a trust review
Witnesses will include representatives from the NHS trust and the author of the internal review. The coroner indicated the scope will include an examination of Mr Lister’s mental health and behaviour in the immediate period before his death.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coroner | Assistant Coroner Louise Rae |
| Trust providing evidence | Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust |
| Initial inquest date | 29 October (reserve 30 October) |
Those with concerns about online harassment or mental health can contact local support services and NHS helplines. The inquest will aim to clarify the circumstances surrounding Mr Lister’s death and determine whether any lessons can be drawn about the care he received and the wider issues raised by those close to him.
Further details, including the inquest timetable and lists of witnesses, will be published by the coroner’s office closer to the date.
