Appeal over webcam death images

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Detectives investigating the death of a man who apparently broadcast his own suicide live on a webcam have asked people not to distribute the images.

Kevin Whitrick, 42, from Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, died from hanging, police have confirmed.

His family are extremely distressed by the pictures being distributed around the world, especially his two young children, police said.

Mr Whitrick's body was found on Wednesday night.

'Life and soul'

A chatroom user contacted police to report that the man had "self-harmed".

West Mercia Constabulary said attempts were made to resuscitate Mr Whitrick, who has 12-year-old twins, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

They said on Friday their inquiries revealed he was using an internet chatroom with a number of people at the time of his death.

His ex-wife said he had been in a serious car crash in July 2006 and had never fully recovered.

In a statement, she said: "He was always the life and soul of the party, an extremely considerate and kind person and loved by many."

Police are working to ensure that witness support facilities are available to those who may have been affected by what they saw.