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Chatroom warning after web death Chatroom warning after web death
(about 3 hours later)
A coroner has called for "insult chatrooms" to be banned after a man took his own life while being watched by others on a web cam.A coroner has called for "insult chatrooms" to be banned after a man took his own life while being watched by others on a web cam.
A verdict of suicide was returned on Kevin Whitrick, 42, of Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, who died in March.A verdict of suicide was returned on Kevin Whitrick, 42, of Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, who died in March.
Mr Whitrick was using Paltalk, which encouraged users to insult each other, when he announced he wanted to kill himself, coroner Michael Gwynne heard. The court heard he was using Paltalk, which urged users to insult each other, when he said he wanted to kill himself.
He hanged himself while other internet users egged him on. He hanged himself while some internet users urging him on and others tried to stop him, coroner Michael Gwynne heard.
'Well-liked''Well-liked'
The coroner was told Mr Whitrick had been using a "friendly insult" forum at the time of his death.
Mr Gwynne said: "The death of Kevin Whitrick should not be allowed to pass without someone seeing if it is possible to stop chatrooms of this nature being on the internet."Mr Gwynne said: "The death of Kevin Whitrick should not be allowed to pass without someone seeing if it is possible to stop chatrooms of this nature being on the internet."
The inquest had heard Mr Whitrick had had long running problems with depression. The hearing was told Mr Whitrick had had long-running problems with depression.
Internet user Carol Vickers had called the police after watching Mr Whitrick hang himself with some sort of electrical cord. My brother was a strong character and he wouldn't have been influenced Malcolm Whitrick
Mr Whitrick's brother, Malcolm, described his brother as "lively, bubbly and well-liked". Internet user Carol Vickers called the police after watching Mr Whitrick hang himself with some sort of electrical cord.
Mr Whitrick's brother, Malcolm, told the coroner his brother was "lively, bubbly and well-liked".
Speaking after the inquest, he said he did not blame the other chatroom users for his death.
"My brother was a strong character and he wouldn't have been influenced," he said.
It is thought that up to 60 people were using the chatroom at the time of the incident.
West Mercia Police headed the inquiry into his death and spoke to users of the forum.
Officers passed a file about the death to the Crown Prosecution Service who decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against any individual.