A TEENAGER admitted to a psychiatric ward as an emergency case was found dead in the grounds of the hospital.

Nathan Simms, 17, was admitted to West Lane Hospital, Middlesbrough, in January, showing signs of a psychotic disorder and schizophrenia -the results of solvent and aerosol abuse.

His body was found in April with a lighter fuel can in his hand.

He was found by two schoolboys taking a shortcut.

An inquest in Middlesbrough heard that only last year, paramedics had to revive Nathan after he inhaled from a canister on the beach at Redcar, where he and his family had moved from Guisborough, east Cleveland.

Nathan, who had a history of self-harm from the age of ten, had made such good progress while in hospital that he was to have been transferred to a more open unit the month after his death.

To prepare him for the move, he had been given escorted trips outside the hospital and then allowed out on unescorted leave.

The day before he died, he had been to a local cinema on his own.

Psychiatrist Dr Suriya Shanmugham said: "Nathan had engaged in no significant self-harm behaviour or posed any serious risk to himself or others.

"In general, Nathan was co-operating well with his clinical team and reasonably well with his psychosis education."

Nurse Jacqueline Slater told Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield that on the day Nathan died, he had been pleasant and cheerful.

An inquest jury heard that Nathan was admitted because he had terrified residents of a bed and breakfast where he had been staying by triggering a fire alarm. He had fantasised about killing his family and was hearing voices.

The jury returned a verdict of misadventure.