THE son of a Palmers Green man who committed suicide a year ago this week said he cannot accept the verdict of the inquest into his death.

Andrew Takoushis claims neglect by two hospitals, the police and the ambulance service contributed to his father Pavlos' death. He was also disappointed that his request for an inquest involving a jury had been denied.

Mr Takoushis, 64, who lived in The Rise, suffered from schizophrenia for much of his life, and died last January by throwing himself into the River Thames.

The inquest into his death ended on Thursday. Coroner Dr Andrew Reid recorded a verdict of "death from suicide not resulting from a disturbed mind".

But Andrew is determined not to give up the fight for a verdict of "suicide contributed to by neglect".

He said: "Our legal representatives are to consider the decision against all the evidence and will inform us what options we could pursue, including the pursuance of a High Court judicial review.

"The whole process has been a very torturous experience, particularly for my mother. As a family, we will not be able to rest until we arrive at the appropriate judgment."

The inquest at Poplar Coroners Court last week heard about the final hours of Pavlos Takoushis' life.

The hearing heard Mr Takoushis, who was a voluntary patient at Chase Farm Hospital in Enfield, left there on January 13 last year. Later that day, he was seen trying to jump from Tower Bridge.

He was taken by police and ambulance crews to St Thomas' Hospital, in central London but again he left and, at 3pm, an office worker witnessed a man fitting Mr Takoushis' description jumping into the river near St Catherine's Dock.

Giving evidence at the inquest ambulance worker Michael Smith said that in a conversation with Mr Takoushis, the 64-year-old had talked about having an argument with his wife and she had told him to jump in the river.

His body was not found until February 14, when it was identified through dental records.

Son Andrew believes more could have been done for his father by all four statutory authorities.

At the inquest, Mr Takoushis' counsel Ruth Brander said: "It is our contention the state did not fulfil its duty of care for Mr Takoushis.

"He was clearly in need of a high degree of supervision as he had just been seen trying to kill himself by jumping off a bridge.

"There were clear systemic failures in the protocol of St Thomas' Hospital and problems in the lines of communication between the emergency services."

Since Mr Takoushis' death, St Thomas' Hospital has tightened its security procedures involving high-risk patients. Chase Farm Hospital also launched an inquiry following the incident.

Dr Reid said he was satisfied with the changes made by St Thomas' Hospital.

Throughout the process, the Takoushis family has been supported by mental health charity SANE. The group's chief executive, Marjorie Wallace, said: "It is very, very disappointing that the coroner took such a blinkered view when there was a huge opportunity to improve the help that people who are suicidal should be receiving.

"We support Mr Takoushis' call for a judicial review and would also press for an independent inquiry focusing on the failure of all the services involved."