An inquest has opened into the death of an Ipswich man whose body was discovered on Lowestoft beach earlier this year.
Jason Bates died on May 18, 2023, and was found facing down in the sand.
He had a drug prescription on him when his body was found, a coroner said while opening the inquest into the death of Mr Bates at Suffolk Coroners' Court in Ipswich on Friday.
Mr Bates was 53 years old when he died.
In a family tribute earlier this year, Mr Bates was described as a beloved father and friend to many.
He was born on September 11, 1969, as the second of four children.
He grew up in Felixstowe with his elder sister, Sharon, and two younger sisters, Catrina and Andrea.
He attended school at the nearby Orwell and Deben high schools, before moving to Ipswich at the age of 16.
When paying tribute earlier this year, his family said he was a man of many talents and worked several different jobs in his lifetime, including as an assistant for a tree surgeon and in the shipping industry at the Port of Felixstowe.
In 2001, he met his partner of several years, Theresa Clarkson. Ms Clarkson said that he immediately “clicked” with her young daughter, Abi.
The couple's daughter, Jessica, arrived in 2002.
Mr Bates was also a prominent member of the Ipswich biking community.
“Even though Dad lived ten minutes from the town, it would take more like 40 minutes to get there because so many people would say hello to him and they’d stop for a chat.”
The inquest into Mr Bates' death will be concluded at Suffolk Coroners' Court on December 22.
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