A FALMOUTH mother whose son was one of three patients who died mysteriously at a Cornish mental health unit is demanding a full explanation.

Popular skateboarder Henry Gibb, 22, died in his bed three days after being admitted to Longreach House in Redruth on June 22.

The death of the former Truro College pupil was one of three over a four-month period that are now being investigated by the coroner, police and the Mental Health Commission.

Ann Buckfield, 65, died in the showers the day after Henry and 44-year-old voluntary patient Carol Baker collapsed in a communal area in March.

Henry was admitted to the 67-bed Longreach House with symptoms of psychosis and depression. Mrs Gibb, of Trevethan Road, Falmouth, said: "I saw him the night before it happened. He seemed better and showed me around the hospital.

"The next day two doctors came to tell me what had happened. At first I thought they were there to discuss the treatment, then when they told me I was devastated. Absolutely shocked.

"Then I felt angry and I still do. Me and my family are angry because it is something that shouldn't have happened. I have seen his medical records. They did not go into his room for 13 hours. They say he was being monitored through a glass window but that isn't good enough.

"He is my son and I won't stop until my questions are answered. We don't feel we can bury him while there is still a police investigation going on."

Dr Terry McClatchey, chairman of the Cornwall Partnership Trust, who run Longreach, said although the deaths were in no way suspicious their unexplained nature was a concern.

"The police and pathologist have looked at it and can't some up with anything. There were no common drugs used and they were all different ages and did not know each other.

"We are feeling frustrated that we can't tell the families anything. We don't think it's suicide and we don't think it's homicide. We are struggling to find out what's going on," he said.