The body of Maximilian Thomas Brooks, a 23-year-old originally from Bath and known for his love of nature, bird watching, and family walks, was found among the rocks at Trevaunance Cove, a popular beach in Cornwall.
Max’s disappearance came after an alarming incident at his family home in Gwithian, near Hayle. According to an inquest held in Truro, Max had gone into his brother Alex’s bedroom holding a knife to his own throat. After Alex managed to remove the knife, Max fled the house and headed towards the coast, an action described as uncharacteristic by the family.
On November 28, 2024, Max had enjoyed a long coastal walk with his parents, brother, and their puppy. Later that afternoon, his mother was away for a hospital appointment in Redruth when the incident with his brother occurred. Following his flight from home, Max was briefly seen by a dog walker near the coastal path, but he continued without engaging.
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The family and police launched an extensive high-risk search involving local police, coastguard teams, dog handlers, drones, the RNLI, and the HM Coastguard helicopter. Despite the efforts, the search was suspended two days later without success.
Tragically, on December 2 at around 7:30 am, sea swimmer Victoria Round and her group discovered Max’s body among the rocks at Trevaunance Cove. Initially mistaking him for a mannequin, they quickly realized the grim reality. Due to poor phone signal, a group member went to a nearby pub to call emergency services, while Victoria stayed to secure the scene.
A post-mortem examination revealed catastrophic head injuries and damage to Max’s spine and limbs consistent with a significant fall from height.
Max’s mother, Annie Brooks, shared that Max had never exhibited signs of suicidal thoughts before. The family had moved from Bath to Cornwall years earlier for its natural beauty, which Max cherished deeply. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Max began showing obsessive-compulsive behaviors and autistic traits, which worsened when his mother had to isolate due to a vulnerable health condition.
Annie described Max’s passion for nature, his care for the environment, his love for bird watching with his brother, and his pride in publishing a fiction book during lockdown. She noted that on the day Max went missing, he behaved unusually but gave no clear indication of self-harm intentions.
Assistant Coroner Emma Hillson stated that it was not possible to determine whether Max’s fall was accidental or intentional. There was no evidence of third-party involvement, and the coroner recorded an open conclusion regarding the cause of death.