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EXAM STRESS TRAGEDY

Severely dyslexic A-level student hanged himself while walking family dog over exam stress

The 18-year-old was speaking regularly to mental health support workers who knew he struggled with thoughts about ending his life

A STRESSED student who was nervous about his upcoming A-level exams took his own life while walking the family dog, an inquest heard today.

Alex Daniel's parents Peter and Caroline were forced to take safety precautions around their home after their son began speaking openly about his suicidal thoughts.

Alex Daniel took his own life while walking the family dog, an inquest heard today
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Alex Daniel took his own life while walking the family dog, an inquest heard todayCredit: INS News

Alex, aged 18, often told mental health support workers that he thought about ending his life.

The severely dyslexic teenager had also previously told a school nurse that he had unsuccessfully tried to hang himself once before.

But on June 6 this year, the first day back after half term holidays, Alex had refused to go to school.

Instead, he spent most of the day in his bedroom and later in the evening went to take the family dog, Otto, for a walk.

However he did not return home, and his parents found his body when they went out looking for him later that evening.

Oxfordshire coroner Darren Salter said: "On June 6 at 10.30pm a call was made by Caroline Daniel saying her son had hanged himself. Her son was removed from a tree but despite the efforts of paramedics life was declared extinct.

"He had been walking the family dog at the time of his death and no signs of other injuries were noted."

In a statement, father Peter Daniels wrote: "Alex was part of a loving and close family. He was born in London and moved to Oxfordshire when he was eight-and-a-half to be close to his prep school, Bruern Abbey.

"At 13 he moved to another school but got disappointing GCSE results and moved to Chipping Norton School to study for his A-levels.

"Chipping Norton School was concerned about his low mood. He was prescribed anti-depressants but his attendance at school was increasingly sporadic."

Oxford Coroner's Court heard today how his parents felt it was good for him to go out and enjoy the fresh air with family pet Otto, who Alex had known since the dog was a puppy.

Coroner Mr Salter said: "Alex had spent most of the day in his room and then walked the dog. When he had not returned by 9pm his parents were concerned and Mr Daniel set out to look for him on foot, while Mrs Daniel took the car.

"The couple went to the Windmill Centre, on the common in Deddington, Oxfordshire, and they noticed Otto, their dog, was alone.

"There was a wooded area and Mr Daniel saw his son - it appeared that he was leaning against a tree, but he wasn't leaning, he was hanging."

The couple desperately tried to get the teenager down but were only able to do so when a neighbour, Thomas Tarrant, heard their cries for help.

Mr Tarrant said in a statement that he initially thought the shouting was just children playing in the park, but then realised it was a call for help.

He managed to free Alex's body but the teenager felt cold to the touch and Mr Tarrant feared it was too late.

Despite this he helped perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation until paramedics arrived.

A police report confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances, but added: "He intimated to a third party that he was in a suicidal frame of mind, and he was about to sit A-level exams so it was quite a stressful time.

"It was evident that he was troubled. In my opinion he took his own life," said the report.

Paramedics confirmed his death at 10.40pm, following unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate Alex, who had first reported his low moods to a GP two years before.

A post-mortem examination report, written by Dr Sanjiv Manek, recorded the cause of death as asphyxiation due to hanging.

Alex's GP, Dr Michael D'Souza, noted that in 2015 he had told a school nurse that he had tried to commit suicide previously.

"I urged for him to be referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)," the GP wrote.

Emma Rigby, who worked for the CAMHS crisis team, said: "On December 3, 2015 we undertook an urgent assessment in Alex Daniel's state of mind after a discussion about a suicide attempt.

"He described biological symptoms of depression including reduced concentration and his sleep was invariably bad.

"He was having thoughts of ending his life but said he did not think he would, but could not get the thoughts out of his head."

Jenny Guest, an occupational therapist from the adult mental health team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, wrote: "I met Alex and his parents during the three months I worked with him. During the last contact, on May 25, he seemed brighter than before and more spontaneous in manner.

"I asked Alex if he had thoughts about ending his life. He had identified nylon threads in the basement of the family home and I spoke to his parents on his behalf and they agreed to move them to a safe place."

Four days before his death Alex was seen by one of Ms Guest's colleagues who found him to be in a low mood.

Following a search of his bedroom in New Street, Deddington, Oxfordshire, no note was found.

The coroner said: "There were texts or messages in emails which although they did not say explicitly that he intended to take his own life, they talk about being fed up with life."

A verdict of suicide was recorded.


If you are having suicidal thoughts you can call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org


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