A former regional daily journalist’s mental health declined after a rescue dog he adopted had to be put down, an inquest heard.

A three-day inquest has opened into the death of the former Liverpool Echo journalist and Hillsborough campaigner Dan Kay, who was found dead on train tracks in May 2023.

The court heard he had made two attempts on his life prior to his death and that his mental health had declined following issues with the rescue dog he had adopted from Bosnia the previous January.

The dog, a mongrel called Baki, turned out to be aggressive and dangerous and a vet advised that it should be put down, the Echo reported.

Dan’s close friend Linda Duncan told the court: “[Dan] had really been looking forward to getting a dog but this was the wrong dog for Dan.”

Ms Duncan said after Dan informed the agency through which he adopted the dog that it had been put down, he received “malicious emails” from the company, including one purporting to be from the dog’s original owner in Bosnia which said: “You have murdered my dog.”

Another friend, Steve Kelly, said in a statement read out in court: “Dan’s mental health had deteriorated during the pandemic and even more so after he adopted a dog in January, 2023. When the dog arrived I said it was the wrong dog for him. It was very aggressive. There was something wrong with it.”

“I said the dog was dangerous and needed putting down and the vet did put the dog down. Dan was absolutely heartbroken. He looked terrible. He thought the owner was going to sue him. He went downhill quickly. I told him he had done nothing wrong. It should never have been brought over here in the condition it was in.”

The inquest heard that Dan, pictured, had made two attempts on his life, on 28 April and 1 May 2023, in the days prior to his death.

He was taken to the Royal Liverpool Hospital on the night of May 1 but following day a discussion with mental health staff, chose not to stay in hospital but to be seen at home by the community team from Merseycare.

Ms Duncan said: “Dan was completely different when we left the hospital to how he was the night before when we went into his home. He was more relaxed and talking. I don’t know if it was just a show for us. We will never know. He didn’t like people worrying about him.”

On 7 May, Ms Duncan called the police after she said she became concerned when neither she nor Mr Kelly were able to contact him by phone.

The inquest also heard a moving tribute from Dan’s cousin Amos Waldman who described him as “the most kind, generous and giving person I know”.

He added: “Dan was so warm, charismatic, engaging and thoughtful. He had the biggest heart and was so loyal. He rarely had a bad word to say about anyone.”

The court was told that Dan had long struggled with mental health and previously made two attempts on his life two decades ago. He had spoken publicly about his battles on a podcast in recent years.

The hearing continues.