Ex-glamour model found hanged 18 months after teenage son killed in bike crash
A TORMENTED ex-glamour model was found hanged 18 months after her teen son was killed in a motorbike crash, an inquest heard.
Sam Ramplin, 47, was left heartbroken by 17-year-old Denny's death in April 2019 and vowed she would see her son "soon".
The model-turned-TV-presenter fronted Hollywood celeb show Tinseltown and was a runner up on Hell's Kitchen.
Sam, who once dated actor Michael Keaton, was discovered dead at her home in Malaga in January this year.
An inquest was told how Sam had started drinking more frequently after her son's death and told loved ones she wanted to end her own life.
Sam, who also had a 27-year-old daughter, also said she wanted to "be with her son" and felt "unable to cope".
'HER GRIEF WAS IMMENSE'
Her sister Michelle Thompson told the hearing: "She had been a great mother over the years.
"Unfortunately two years ago, Denny when he was 17 was involved in a motorbike accident that cost him his life.
";The tragedy hit the family really bad, especially my sister Sam.
"Sam had a very colourful life. She had been a glamour model, she had done TV work that unfortunately had fizzled out over the years. She had a lot of ups and downs in her career, some of which had made her feel very low.
"Although she was fun and loving there were dark times that left her feeling low. Her grief for him was immense. She drank alcohol but this became more frequent after he died.
"We as a family always felt we were always there to get her through dark times."
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.
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
Michelle said she visited Denny's grave in October with her sister on what would have been his 19th birthday.
She added: "She said, 'I'll be there soon'. I said, 'don't be silly', but she said 'no, I mean it, I don't know how more I can live'."
Sam, who was originally from Canvey in Essex, had moved to Spain after Denny's death and settled in the Malaga area.
She was discovered unresponsive at her home in January with a post mortem giving her cause of death as asphyxiation due to hanging.
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Recording a verdict of suicide, Coroner Graeme Irvine told Sam's family: "Sam was a young woman and she obviously went through a great deal in the last two years of her life.
"You had already spent time grieving Denny, but to then also grieve Sam is even worse.
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"I offer my condolences."
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
