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RAVER DEATH

Glasgow rave pioneer Keith Robinson died after making ‘impulsive’ decision to jump into Thames, inquest hears

It was reported Robinson - leading figure in Desert Storm Soundsystem - ended his own life in September 2016

A PIONEER of the Glasgow rave movement reported to have taken his own life may have made an impulsive decision, an inquest has heard.

Keith Robinson, 48, was reported to have committed suicide in September 2016, but a coroner told an inquest today they "do not conclude" that was his intention.

 Keith Robinson was a leading character in Desert Storm Soundsystem
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Keith Robinson was a leading character in Desert Storm SoundsystemCredit: Desert Storm Soundsystem

The inquest at Poplar Coroner's Court in London heard that Robinson was planning a tour of Italy with his , before he jumped to his death in the River Thames.

He was taking a walk with his friend, Matthew Roberts, to calm down after becoming paranoid because of an altercation near his home in Limehouse, east London, on the afternoon of September 18 2016.

After approaching the river and getting "drenched", witnesses saw Mr Robinson walk on to nearby railings, jump and land on concrete, before flipping into the water and swimming in.

Mr Roberts said he had left him moments before to get him a change of clothes, but when he returned, saw Mr Richardson in the water who looked like he was "meditating".

He called the emergency services, but they arrived after Richardson's body was underwater.

His body was recovered four days later and a post-mortem examination revealed he had drowned.

Mr Roberts said: "It did not cross my mind that he was in a dangerous state."

He added that he thought Mr Robinson's decision was impulsive.

Coroner Heather Williams concluded that Mr Robinson's death was an accident, saying he "was someone who liked performing daredevil activities" and that impulsion could be a factor in his death.

She added: "I do not conclude that he intended to commit suicide."

His mother, Jenny Chapman, said Mr Robinson was planning to take his music group, the Desert Storm Soundsystem, to Italy, and told her he was getting ready for the trip six days before his death.

She told the court that her son was struggling with "severe bouts of depression" in the year up to his death, and was living in a warehouse "due to a lack of energy and wanting to hide from life."

Mrs Chapman said: "I really understood it when he started disappearing for long periods of time and would not answer his phone and his friends would not know where he was.

Mr Robinson, a founding member of the Desert Storm Soundsystem group, served in Afghanistan in 2010 and suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, the court heard.

Following the inquest, Mrs Chapman said: "Keith was a very charismatic person, he had a very active life in music and had a very strong social conscience.

"He had a huge following in many parts of the world."



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