A COLCHESTER man being cared for at a mental health hospital was found by police on the roof of a building despite claims he was meant to be under 24/7 supervision.

Ryan Buckley, 32, who is diagnosed with schizophrenia, ADHD, and has a history of self-harming was being cared for at Colchester’s Cygnet Hospital. 

During an incident on Saturday Mr Buckley was able to leave the centre and make his way to the roof of the building in Boxted Way. 

Mr Buckley's brother Jason said he was supposed to be under 24-hour supervision and the family claim the door had been opened for him. 

Mr Buckley made a video of himself while on top of the property. 

He was being taken care of in Cygnet’s Highwood’s Ward which Cygnet describes as a 19-bed ward for adult men “experiencing an acute episode of mental illness and require an emergency admission”.

Police were called to the incident at 1pm and spent three hours liaising with other agencies to help get Mr Buckley down from the roof. 

Jason said his brother has had mental health problems since he was aged 13.

He said: “I think it is absolutely disgusting how they say they treat patients safely when clearly, they do not, when he was supposed to be on a 1-to-1. 

“At the end of the day he is in a secure hospital, and it shouldn’t have had happened.”

A Cygnet spokesman said: “We are unable to comment on individuals in our care.

"We do however take the welfare of our patients extremely seriously and their safety is our paramount concern.”

A spokesman for Essex police said: “Officers were called to reports of concern for the welfare of a man in Beech Court, Boxted Way, Colchester, at around 1pm on Saturday April 13.

“We worked closely with other agencies and at around 4.30pm the man was left in the care of healthcare professionals.”

If you are in a mental health crisis you can call Colchester Samaritans on 116 123 free from any phone or on 0330 094 5717 local call charges apply