A GRIEVING family is facing another agonising wait to learn why Luke Bitmead was allowed to discharge himself from hospital before jumping to his death.

Luke's mother Elaine Hanson had been hoping a five-day inquest into his death would provide the answers.

However, on a dramatic final day, Wiltshire coroner David Ridley adjourned the hearing until October, saying he needed more time to consider his verdict.

Speaking outside court, Elaine said: "I'm attempting to channel my grief in a dignified and meaningful way.

"First I am a grieving mother and I want to use my grief in a way that is beneficial to society, with the intention of preventing similar tragedies happening in the future."

Talented author Luke, from Southrop, near Cirencester, who was 34 at the time of his death, died in October 2006 hours after jumping from the Farnsby Street car park in Swindon.

Mrs Hanson had told the inquest she went with her son to the hospital on October 26, after he called and told her he had taken the potentially lethal dose of painkillers.

Mrs Hanson said while he was at hospital, Mr Bitmead, who was living with his girlfriend in Oxford at the time of his death, was interviewed by a mental health nurse.

Mrs Hanson felt important questions were overlooked but she felt he was in a safe place when she left to go home to Southrop at 11pm.

During the early hours of the morning, two answer phone messages were left on Mrs Hanson's phone from staff at the hospital, the inquest heard.

Both explained Mr Bitmead had insisted on discharging himself overnight.

"Luke had tried to remove his lines," the coroner said.

"The nurses helped remove them. He had been escorted off the premises. He had got into a taxi, in his pyjamas. You didn't understand why he had been allowed to go."

The coroner said Mrs Hanson then discovered he had leapt 30ft from a car park in Swindon.

Mrs Hanson said Mr Bitmead's paternal family had a history of mental illness.

Chris Hanson, Mrs Hanson's husband and Mr Bitmead's stepfather, said in a statement he could not understand why Mr Bitmead was not detained under the Mental Health Act.

Celia Moore, the mental health nurse who assessed Mr Bitmead, said she felt suicide was his "back-up plan" and he would rather be treated for his mental health issues.