Paul Richardson

The skeletal remains of Paul Richardson were found at the bottom of a mine shaft at Rosewall Hill, St Ives, in December 1983.

Paul Richardson  had been an artist and had lodged in Porthia Road, St Ives. He had dissapeared in 1979.

His inquest heard that he had been despressed around the time he vanished, after having separated from his family, and was said to have threatened to throw himself down a mineshaft.

However, it was heard that his injuries, for a fall of 100ft, were light and that it was not possible to establish the cause of death.

It was also noted that there was doubt that the shaft at Rosewall Hill had been fenced off in 1979 although by the time of the discovery of his remains the shaft had been sealed off with barbed wire. The Coroner said that it was his opinion that the shaft had been fenced off in 1979, but the woman with whom Paul Richardson  had lodge said that she couldn't remember there having been any fencing around that time.

His remains were found by a man from Stithians that had been exploring with three others. however, it was noted that they were covered with rocks and that it wasn't clear how they came to be over the remains. 

His remains were identified by the women with whom he had lodged by his clothes. 

It was noted that it hadn't been possible to identify him by his teeth as the two dental surgeons that might have treated him had since died and their records had been destroyed. 

The Coroner said: