Man's suicide at historical site

Derek Upton had been suffering paranoia and hallucinations

A man shot himself in the head at the site where he had made "significant discoveries" as an amateur archaeologist, an inquest has heard.

Derek Upton's body was found on the shores of the River Severn in November, six weeks after he went missing.

During his life, the retired steelworker from Caldicot had found Stone Age human footprints and Bronze Age settlements near where he died

Newport coroner said Mr Upton, 63, had killed himself while depressed.

During the hearing, Newport Coroner's Court heard how Mr Upton had been suffering from paranoia and hallucinations in the months before he disappeared.

He had been taking pain killers which he believed were causing the hallucinations.

His wife, Elizabeth told the court: "I was trying to get him medical help.

"He was on a pain reliever which he believed was the cause of the hallucinations and paranoia.

"I can't comment on whether they were the cause, but I do know he was struggling, and had been to the doctor to try and get the medication changed," she added.

Missing

The court heard how Mr Upton, who had been awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the University of Wales College, Newport for his archaeological work in and around the Severn Estuary, had been on a holiday with his wife when he returned home alone.

He was reported missing on the 25 September and air and ground searches were launched after it emerged that a shotgun was also missing.

Police discovered his car parked on the foreshore of the River Severn between Magor and Rogiet near Newport.

Nearly two weeks later, his gun was found on mud flats near Rogiet.

A month after the discovery of the gun, Mr Upton's body was found washed up on a river bank nearby.

Coroner David Bowen heard how he had died from massive head injuries consistent with a gun shot wound at point blank range underneath the chin.

The coroner said he was satisfied the injuries were self-inflicted and that Mr Upton had killed himself while depressed.