WARNING: This story discusses suicide.

A Saskatchewan Health Authority business card with a number written on it lay on the ground where Samwel UkoB次元官网网址檚 body was pulled from a lake.

Jurors at a public inquest into his death heard Monday that Uko had placed it there before he drowned himself on the Saskatchewan legislature grounds just over two years ago.

Among the items Uko placed on the ground B次元官网网址� a cellphone, wallet, keys, jacket B次元官网网址� it was the card that got Daniel RipplingerB次元官网网址檚 attention.

B次元官网网址淚t just stuck out in my mind,B次元官网网址� said the Regina firefighter who helped pull UkoB次元官网网址檚 body out of the water following a 70-minute search.

Earlier that day Uko, who was 20 and originally from Abbotsford, B.C., had sought mental help at the Regina General Hospital.

He was brought to hospital the morning of May 21, 2020, by his cousin, who wasnB次元官网网址檛 allowed to stay due to COVID-19 protocols, the inquest heard.

Uko was discharged a few hours later, but around suppertime he called the Regina Police Service to say he needed help and wanted to go back to the hospital.

The jury heard that police dropped him off at the emergency room, but Uko was eventually removed by security guards.

Two hours later, police and firefighters responded to a drowning call at Wascana Lake. The jury heard there were no drugs or alcohol in UkoB次元官网网址檚 body. He didnB次元官网网址檛 have any external injuries.

UkoB次元官网网址檚 uncle Justin Nyee believes his nephew was turned away because he was Black.

B次元官网网址淗e did not fit the description of a person who might need help to the people who was there,B次元官网网址� Nyee, who is from Calgary, said outside the inquest. B次元官网网址淭hey did not feel compassionate about him. They did not treat him as a human. They just discredited him and just threw him out.

B次元官网网址淚f he was, letB次元官网网址檚 say, someone else, someone would have cared. This is a person sitting there crying, B次元官网网址業 need help.B次元官网网址� But they did not, because they did not see him like one of them.B次元官网网址�

Nyee said he hopes the inquest will provide the family with some long-awaited answers.

B次元官网网址淲e have so many questions.B次元官网网址�

John Ash, executive director with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, admits Uko wasnB次元官网网址檛 given the level of care he deserved.

B次元官网网址淲e failed him,B次元官网网址� Ash said at the inquest.

The health authority broke its own policy the second time Uko visited the hospital, he said. Staff failed to admit him as an unidentified patient when they couldnB次元官网网址檛 confirm his name.

B次元官网网址淪ometimes itB次元官网网址檚 difficult to discern what is a first name or a last name or what is a middle name,B次元官网网址� Ash said. B次元官网网址淭his led to confusion amongst the registration clerk.B次元官网网址�

The health authority has since changed its policy to say people B次元官网网址� identified or not B次元官网网址� must see a doctor first before getting discharged or removed from hospital.

UkoB次元官网网址檚 parents, Joice Guya Issa Bankando and Taban Uko, flew in from Vancouver to attend the weeklong inquest.

His mother gripped a framed photo of her son smiling and wearing a football jersey from a team he once played with.

His father cried as family gathered around to hug and console him.

Nyee remembers his nephew as sincere, loving and funny B次元官网网址� a person who cared about everyone around him.

B次元官网网址淭he person walking into the hospital, he was good. He was healthy. He was telling them whatB次元官网网址檚 wrong with him and they turned him away,B次元官网网址� Nyee said.

B次元官网网址淚t brings the question: What do we do if you walk in (a hospital) and they kick you out? ItB次元官网网址檚 very deep and itB次元官网网址檚 hurtful for us.B次元官网网址�

If you feel like you are in crisis or are considering suicide, please call the Crisis Centre BC suicide hotline at 1-800-784-2433.

Other resources include: Canada Suicide Prevention Service at Toll free: 1-833-456-4566. You can also text 45645 or visit the online chat service at crisisservicescanada.ca.

Some warning signs include suicidal thoughts, anger, recklessness, mood changes, anxiety, lack of purpose, helplessness and substance use.