Police officer, 31, fell to his death hours after breaking up with his girlfriend, inquest hears

A police officer plunged to his death from an aqueduct hours after telling his parents that a relationship was over, an inquest heard.

PC Ryan Donaldson, 31, ended his life at the Pontcysyllte aqueduct last December after texting his ex-girlfriend ‘I just can’t be bothered anymore’ and telling his family: ‘Sorry for what I am about to do’.

An inquest in Ruthin heard PC Donaldson, who joined North Wales Police in 2018 and was serving in the Wrexham rural division, had suffered from depression for a couple of years. 

At the time of his death, his family described him as ‘a much loved son and brother who will be greatly missed’.

PC Ryan Donaldson, 31, (pictured) ended his life last December after texting his ex-girlfriend ‘I just can’t be bothered anymore’ and telling his family: ‘Sorry for what I am about to do’

The Wrexham police officer plunged to his death from the Pontcysyllte aqueduct just hours after telling his parents that a relationship was over, an inquest heard

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PC Donaldson died on December 11, 2022 after having jumped to his death, witnesses claimed in a statement read at the hearing. The witnesses thought he had landed into the River Dee but then saw that he had fallen onto a path. 

Sergeant Joseph Dunne, who responded to the incident, said that he found a police warrant card in his pocket before realising it was PC Donaldson, whom he knew. 

Consultant pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson gave the cause of death as multiple injuries. 

The officer’s mother, Linda Donaldson, with whom he lived in St Giles Crescent, Wrexham, said he told her that morning that his relationship was at an end. The circumstances surrounding the breakup were not revealed to the inquest. Mrs Donaldson added that he later said he was going for a walk.

PC Ryan Donaldson (pictured) suffered from depression for several years. At the time of his death his family described him as ‘a much loved son and brother who will be greatly missed’

Shortly before his death, PC Donaldson texted his former girlfriend: ‘I just can’t be bothered anymore.’  He also sent a text to members of his family apologising for ‘what I am about to do.’

PC Donaldson was said to have enjoyed socialising with friends from the town and his rota colleagues.

‘He was extremely proud to serve with North Wales Police. He loved being a police officer and his family were all very proud of what he had achieved,’ his loved ones said in a statement. 

Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, told the officer’s sister: ‘To describe it as a tragedy is inadequate.

‘Clearly, he had struggled for years but provided a valuable service as a police officer. It is a massive loss to his family and everybody.’

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