A proper independent inquiry will be held into the incident and most likely a raft of recommendations will stem from that.

Having said that, it’s been reported that the police took Mr Holcombe to the Armidale Hospital when they were of the view that he was in a distressed state. Health authorities have said though that Mr Holcombe left the facility under his own steam and that while they encouraged him to stay they could not compel him to do so as he had presented on a voluntary basis.

On the surface of it, MP Richard Torbay is right in saying that ‘the system’ has failed this young man - and with the most tragic of consequences.