THE parents of a man who hanged himself have praised the volunteers who spent two days searching dense woodland to find him.

Sue and John Culling said they were full of gratitude to the 25 people from Dorset Search and Rescue (DorSAR) who located their son’s body and ‘brought him back to them’.

Martin John Culling, aged 44, of Woodsford Road, Crossways, was found hanged from a tree in West Knighton on March 28. He left a suicide note in his silver Peugeot Estate car, which was discovered the previous day.

A mass search effort was launched to find Mr Culling, involving DorSAR volunteers, the Lowland Search Dogs Team, Dorset Search Dogs, Mercia Search and Rescue team from Wales, who were visiting the area, and Dorset Police officers and the force helicopter.

A Dorchester inquest heard that dad-of-two Mr Culling had been suffering with anxiety and depression for at least 13 years.

Pathologist Doctor Mark Deverell said the cause of his death was hanging.

Speaking after the inquest, Sue Culling, also of Crossways, said a collection at their son’s funeral had raised £637 for DorSAR and they hoped it would go towards helping others like their son.

Mrs Culling, 65, said: “We hope that they can use it to buy some equipment that will be useful for them.

“They’re a fantastic organisation and we’re so grateful to them.

“The family are all in agreement that more people should be made aware what DorSAR do, they’re all volunteers and we can’t praise them enough.

“Plus the police have been very good, they’ve been around to see us since. It wasn’t a case of it’s happened and that is it – they’ve been around to check we’re as good as we can be.”

John Culling said they did not at first realise the searchers had been volunteers and described them as a ‘gift to give the community’.

Speaking after the inquest Mr Culling, 68, said: “It would be fantastic for DorSAR if they can use the money for something that will help someone else.”

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said that married watercress worker Mr Culling had previously taken an overdose ‘in desperation’.

Mr Johnston described Mr Culling’s suicide note as ‘very sweet’ and said it even reminded the family to make sure the dogs got their injections.

A verdict of suicide was recorded.