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Hanging 'cries for help' warning | Hanging 'cries for help' warning |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The coroner serving a county where a number of young people have taken their own lives says he believes they do not realise how quickly hanging can kill. | The coroner serving a county where a number of young people have taken their own lives says he believes they do not realise how quickly hanging can kill. |
Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he felt many of the youngsters who killed themselves were "crying out for help". | Bridgend coroner Philip Walters said he felt many of the youngsters who killed themselves were "crying out for help". |
But he said doing so by hanging "almost certainly" leads to death. | |
He made the comments at the inquest of Liam Clarke, 20, from Cefn Glas, Bridgend, who he said killed himself while under the influence of drink. | He made the comments at the inquest of Liam Clarke, 20, from Cefn Glas, Bridgend, who he said killed himself while under the influence of drink. |
Since the beginning of 2007, 22 young people from the county have apparently taken their own lives. | Since the beginning of 2007, 22 young people from the county have apparently taken their own lives. |
The inquest in Brackla, Bridgend heard Mr Clarke hanged himself from the frame of a children's slide following an argument with his girlfriend. | The inquest in Brackla, Bridgend heard Mr Clarke hanged himself from the frame of a children's slide following an argument with his girlfriend. |
His body was discovered in a play area near his home by a dog walker on the morning of December 27, 2007. | His body was discovered in a play area near his home by a dog walker on the morning of December 27, 2007. |
The inquest heard he had stormed out of the home he shared with his parents after having an argument with his girlfriend. | The inquest heard he had stormed out of the home he shared with his parents after having an argument with his girlfriend. |
If people are crying out for help or trying to draw attention to a particular set of circumstances, this is not the way to do it Bridgend coroner Philip Walters | If people are crying out for help or trying to draw attention to a particular set of circumstances, this is not the way to do it Bridgend coroner Philip Walters |
Mr Clarke had accused her of having an affair with a friend after they had spent Boxing Day evening drinking in a local pub. | Mr Clarke had accused her of having an affair with a friend after they had spent Boxing Day evening drinking in a local pub. |
Before he killed himself, he sent a text message to his girlfriend and mother. | Before he killed himself, he sent a text message to his girlfriend and mother. |
The coroner Mr Walters ruled that Mr Clarke did not deliberately kill himself. | The coroner Mr Walters ruled that Mr Clarke did not deliberately kill himself. |
"What I'm satisfied about is that I don't think for one minute he intended to take his own life," said Mr Walters. | "What I'm satisfied about is that I don't think for one minute he intended to take his own life," said Mr Walters. |
"I don't think that for one minute. I don't think some of these young people, not only in Bridgend but across the whole of my district and other districts, realise how quickly one is rendered unconscious. | "I don't think that for one minute. I don't think some of these young people, not only in Bridgend but across the whole of my district and other districts, realise how quickly one is rendered unconscious. |
"In general it is a time limit of less than five seconds before unconsciousness. | "In general it is a time limit of less than five seconds before unconsciousness. |
"If people are crying out for help or trying to draw attention to a particular set of circumstances, this is not the way to do it. | "If people are crying out for help or trying to draw attention to a particular set of circumstances, this is not the way to do it. |
"It will almost certainly lead to death." | "It will almost certainly lead to death." |
Mr Walters recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Clarke killed himself while under the influence of drink. | Mr Walters recorded a narrative verdict that Mr Clarke killed himself while under the influence of drink. |
Depression | Depression |
In a statement, Mrs Clarke told the inquest that her son had been prescribed medication for depression and would become aggressive whenever he forgot to take his tablets. | In a statement, Mrs Clarke told the inquest that her son had been prescribed medication for depression and would become aggressive whenever he forgot to take his tablets. |
She also said he tried to hang himself with his school tie at the age of 14 or 15 following a row over whether he could have his tongue pierced. She said the attempt failed when the tie snapped. | She also said he tried to hang himself with his school tie at the age of 14 or 15 following a row over whether he could have his tongue pierced. She said the attempt failed when the tie snapped. |
"We found out he was beginning to use cannabis and he would get a terrible attitude," said Mrs Clarke. | "We found out he was beginning to use cannabis and he would get a terrible attitude," said Mrs Clarke. |
"The last few months he had been bad and he would argue." | "The last few months he had been bad and he would argue." |
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