Family seeks answers over grandad's bridge fall

James Callery had been struggling with his mental health, his family said

The family of a grandfather are seeking answers after he fell from a bridge after freeing himself from a police van he had been placed in for his own safety.

Merseyside Police were called to the a bridge on the East Lancashire Road, near the junctions of Rainford Road and Abbey Road in St Helens, following concerns about James Callery's welfare on 25 October.

When officers arrived they found the 66-year-old, who was known as Jimmy, standing on the outside of a set of railings.

He was pulled back over the fencing and placed in the van, but managed to get himself out and moved towards the edge of the bridge from where he fell to his death.

The force referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which is conducting an investigation.

In a statement released through the law firm Leigh Day, Mr Callery's family said they were "devastated" and "desperate for answers".

'Help us find peace'

"We urge anyone who may have seen anything or has any information, no matter how small, to come forward and help us understand the events leading to Jimmy’s death," the statement said.

"We hope that those who might know something will help us find peace by shedding light on his final moments.”

After his death Mr Callery was described as an "incredible husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend".

His family said: "His kindness, compassion, and selflessness touched countless lives, earning him a special place in the hearts of all who knew him."

They said he had struggled with his mental health over the past four months.

Leigh Day said the family had also asked Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust to conduct an internal investigation due to Mr Callery being involved with its crisis team in the months before he died.

IOPC regional director Catherine Bates said: "Our investigation will be thorough and independent to ensure we understand the police officers’ interactions with Mr Callery on the day he sadly died."

Ms Bates said the IOPC was particularly keen to speak to anyone who witnessed the interaction between Mr Callery and police officers on the bridge.