Mum reveals daughter’s harrowing fight to save son who killed himself ‘consumed with pain’ for missing sis Leah Croucher
A MUM has revealed her family's battle to save her "beautiful" son who killed himself after being "consumed with pain" over his missing sister Leah Croucher.
Tracey Furness posted a heartbreaking final photo and tribute to her son, Haydon Croucher, who died after being rushed to hospital last week.
Haydon, 24, was part of the huge team searching for his younger sister who went missing the day after Valentine's Day in Milton Keynes, Bucks.
A police source said he was found hanged.
Haydon's distraught mum revealed she heard her "own screams" after finding him, with his sister Jade "begging for him to come back".
In a heart-rending Facebook post, Tracey said she cannot now "shy away from the horror of ill mental health".
Her son felt "so lost, so broken that he felt he had no other choice other than to take his own life" she said.
FAMILY'S FIGHT TO SAVE SON
Tracey posted: "Haydon was so consumed with pain and anguish and despite the love around him it wasn’t enough.
"His mother's love and that of his entire family was not enough.
"Finding your son and for Jade, her own brother's lifeless body, both trying in vain to breathe air into him.
"Hearing your own screams between each compression on his chest.
"Your daughter begging for him to come back to us and telling him how loved he is.
Hearing your own screams between each compression on his chest.
Tracey Furness
"An image of his beautiful lifeless face forever imprinted in our minds."
Police said Haydon's death is being treated as "unexplained but non-suspicious", as Tracey paid tribute to her son.
Tracey added: "Haydon may now have found his peace, but for me and my family we will never be the same. Suicide may end their pain in the moment, but for the families a lifetime of pain has just began.
"I write this knowing it cannot bring my son back, but if one life can be saved through knowing the impact of this sad but tragically too common reality, then Haydon's loss of life will not be in vain."
Tracey also shared an emotional photo of her son holding hands with his family after he was taken to hospital.
In the heart-wrenching Facebook post, the distraught mum wrote she was "forever broken" following her son's death.
MUM 'FOREVER BROKEN'
Tracey wrote: "You mean the world to me and I cannot even begin to process the pain and heartache that I feel.
"My world has fallen to pieces without you. You were the most loving boy and the bond we had will stay with me until eternity.
"Giving life to you to see life go from you makes no sense. A mother should never have to bury their child!!
"You loved with all your heart, family meant absolutely everything to you and you meant everything to us.
"My son 24 years of life, 24 years of love, 24 years young but still my baby boy. I will NEVER be the same. I am forever broken and forever lost.
"Rest in peace my beautiful boy. Mummy loves you."
Haydon's sister Jade posted the same photo, with a tribute saying: "Haydon, me Mum and Dad held on to your hand until the very last moment, but we will hold you in our heart forever.
"You will always be with us until the day we meet you again."
Leah's dad John posted that he'd spoken with Haydon on Thursday evening.
He said they'd discussed the "sadness" the family felt approaching November 15, with nine months "with no news about Leah".
They agreed to meet on Friday, "so we can face it together".
But on Thursday police told the family Haydon was fighting for his life in hospital.
Told by doctors that "the prognosis is bad", John sat by Haydon's bedside and saw him "deteriorate by the minute".
Saying his goodbyes, John told Haydon he loved him, to be "at peace" and held him as he "slipped away".
'OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE BROKEN'
John added: "To say our hearts and minds are broken is an understatement.
"Haydon was a kind, generous, funny, witty and loving person, and in his words an amazingly good looking bloke.
"He had a huge heart. He was only 24. Too young to be gone forever.
"He has left behind two families and friends that loved him dearly. We will miss him. Always."
SEARCH FOR MISSING LEAH
Haydon Croucher had been involved in the ongoing search for his younger sister, and in May appeared at Aylesbury Crown Court accused of threatening a man who had dated Leah.
He had accepted a restraining order from Judge Francis Sheridan and the prosecution was dropped.
At the time the judge told him: "This is a real tragedy.
"You and your family are entitled to and deserve our utter sympathy."
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn't discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society - from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It's the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it's rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You're Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let's all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others... You're Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, , 0800 585 858
- Heads Together,
- Mind, , 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus,, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, , 116 123
Missing Leah Croucher was having an affair with an engaged man before her disappearance, her family said at the end of October.
Her mum Claire Croucher broke her silence to talk about the relationship with the man - who cannot be named for legal reasons.
Claire said: "It started in the summer of last year.
"She was talking about this man all the time. It was X this and X that. It was obvious she had a soft spot for him.
'LIKE AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE'
"Then we found out he was engaged and it sounded like it was an arranged marriage.
"I remember saying to Leah, 'Don't you go falling for him, he will never be yours.'"
Police have spoken to the man and say they have no suspicions about him because it is thought he has an alibi for the time that Leah vanished.
Her parents say Leah lied to them after claiming she was booking a hotel room at Jury's Inn, Central Milton Keynes, on February 3 for a night out with two female pals.
But she booked a room at a nearby Travelodge instead, her bank statement shows.
Her friends later confirmed they hadn't been with Leah that night, Claire said.
On Valentine's night, the night before Leah vanished, she left home between 6pm and 7.15pm, telling her mum she was seeing a friend.
But checks showed she never saw that friend and police have never established where she went or who she was with.
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Claire admitted last month that she feared Leah might now be dead.
She said: "I try not to think of the second one, but as time goes on it's there. I get bad days where it won't go away and I cry and cry.
"I desperately want her to be alive but we are going through absolute hell."
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans (free) on 116123 or 020 7734 2800.