Gary Hayzer was pronounced dead having been found unconscious in Slade Close in the Wood Farm area of Oxford on New Year’s Eve.
The 57-year-old has been described as ‘the most lovely person’ among the heartfelt tributes, which have been shared with this newspaper by family and friends.
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Following his death, a spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “We were called at 8.10am on Wednesday (December 31) to a report of an unconscious man on Slade Close.
“Emergency services attended but sadly the man, in his 50s, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“His death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious.”
While the circumstances surrounding his death are currently unknown, his eldest daughter, who wishes to remain anonymous, said he suffered with mental health issues and had had a ‘really hard life’.
Gary Hayzer (Image: Family handout)
It comes after Oxfordshire County Council approved a review into mental health services following concerns there are not enough secure psychiatric beds available to meet demand.
The motion was raised at a council meeting in December by leader of the Labour group and councillor for Churchill and Lye Valley, Liz Brighouse OBE, who believes there is a mental health ‘crisis’ in her community.
“I know in my community, the number of people suffering from poor mental health is horrendous,” she said.
“It’s quite clear that many of them are not getting the services they need.
Liz Brighouse OBE (Image: Oxfordshire County Council.)
“I’m devastated to hear Gary did have mental health problems, I hope he was getting the services he needed.
“Often, when people are in a mental health crisis, there are no beds available for them so they can’t be taken into hospital and cared for properly.
“I think there is a crisis – what I don’t know is how big it is and what is happening in other communities?
“I find it really disturbing that there are so many people in desperate need of mental health services and they appear to not be getting the help they need.
Gary Hayzer (right) with his best friend David Andrews (Image: Family handout)
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“I hope that through the work done in response to the motion to council on this issue that we are made more aware of what needs to be done to elevate the distress caused by poor mental health.”
Mr Hayzer’s daughter said she believes that those with mental health struggles are ‘often overlooked’ and that there ‘definitely isn’t’ enough support.
“I just hope people can learn from this, and if they have got a family member in this situation, they do what they can. I always made sure my dad knew that I loved him,” she added.
Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information