FRIENDS of Rajan Gill have said he was 'the best person ever' and 'more like a brother' after the inquest into his death today recorded a narrative verdict.

An inquest in to how 20-year-old Rajan of Staunton Road, Slough, died after being found in the Jubilee River on April 11, 2015, was held at Reading Town Hall.

During the inquest, it was heard that Rajan's mother found him in his bedroom on March 16 this year, standing in a 'funny way' complaining of a headache and hearing voices.

A GP appointment at Manor Park Medical Centre was made for the following day and at around 4pm Rajan went for a walk with no money or credit cards - this was the last time he was seen by his family.

By 10pm he had still not returned and his parents were unable to get hold of him on his phone.

The following day Davinder Gill, his father, reported him missing to police.

Slough Observer:

Rajan was not found until April 11, when a cyclist had spotted his shoes in the water while travelling along the Jubilee River between Windsor and Slough. The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Rajan's mother reported him feeling depressed about not being able to find a job on completion of his time at East Berkshire College in June 2014. He had also mentioned this to friends, but at no point did he ever describe having suicidal thoughts.

He had taken a trip to New York in summer 2014, where he had been admitted to hospital for three days following an episode where he had described feeling 'overwhelmed' and 'lost'.

He was prescribed anti-psychotic medication and returned home to the UK with his father who had gone out to America to collect him.

Once at home he engaged with the community mental health team, arranged a plan to slowly come off the medication and by July 20 he reported to his GP that he was feeling well in himself.

His family said he appeared fine from that point and the inquest heard that he was not on any medication for mental health problems when he went missing.

During the phone call to his GP on March 16, he had given no cause for concern for his welfare and Rajan had been happy to wait until the following day for an appointment.

Whitley Coakley Spence, who went to St Joseph's Catholic High School with Rajan and Nicole Farnham, who had known him since nursery, both attended the inquest.

Speaking after the inquest Miss Farnham said: "He was the best person ever. He was more like a brother than anything.

"When he told me [about feeling depressed] I took a deep breath and said if he wanted someone to talk to I'll always be there. No matter what time, call me or text me and I'll be there for you.

"He was more of a protective lad, he liked to keep things to himself."

Recording a narrative verdict Berkshire coroner Peter Bedford, concluded that as no witnesses saw Rajan enter the water there was no way of knowing exactly what happened.