Artist died 'handcuffed to tree'

BBC ^ | 9/22/05 | Mikey_1962

[Mikey_1962]

A schizophrenic artist who died after handcuffing himself to a tree after throwing away the key, may have tried to free himself, an inquest has heard. The skeleton of Richard Sumner - 47 when he went missing three years ago - was found in a remote area of Clocaenog Forest, Denbighshire, in April 2005.

Mr Sumner, from Crosby, Merseyside, may have changed his mind about killing himself but could not reach the keys, the Denbigh inquest was told.

The coroner recorded an open verdict.

Mr Sumner, at one time a scenic artist for opera productions at Glyndebourne, had suffered from schizophrenia since 1984.

The hearing was told he had attempted to take his life in this manner before and in 1996 had taken four days to free himself.

His skeleton was found by a woman who had become lost while walking her dog.

[Mikey_1962]

He could have been there for a few days. If you handcuff yourself to a tree you would die fairly quickly but maybe not as quickly as you would like.....

Home Office pathologist Brian Rogers

[PeteB570]

Gives new meaning to "Tree Hugger"

We chatted about this a bit a few days ago.

[Puppage]

He could have been there for a few days

The skeleton of Richard Sumner - 47.

A few days does not a skeleton make.

[chaos theory]

It would be interesting to see his work after '96.

[Kenton]

I guess they need to find out whether this was really an accidental death, or if this was just an act of "performance art".

[Enterprise]

I hope that I will never see
A skeleton handcuffed to a tree

[Conspiracy Guy]

I bet the tree is glad he was found.

[chris1]

Sounds like something from tales from the crypt.

[Tijeras_Slim]

He'll be the first dead guy to get an NEA grant.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

A few days while alive.

They didn't find the remains for three years...which does a skeleton make.

[Izzy Dunne]

That poor tree.

[cripplecreek]

Darwin award winner in a special category.

[Izzy Dunne]

if this was just an act of "performance art".

Can't wait for the sequel.

[HamiltonJay]

Killing oneself by locking yourself to a tree in a forest... yep, that sounds abour right for an "artist".. inefficient and painful.

[Enterprise]

Maybe he would have survived if he had a skeleton key.

[Dust in the Wind]

As it were, the tree's eating it up.

[bella1]

Want to bet he was a Democrat??

[avg_freeper]

LOL! The best handcuffed skeleton poem I've read all day!

[Enterprise]

This was genuine "down to the bone" performance art.

[DainBramage]

Shady character bump