A High Wycombe man took his own life by hanging himself out of his bedroom window after suffering from mental health issues, an inquest heard this week.
Riaz Kamat’s stepfather was horrified to arrive home and find his stepson hanging, and had desperately tried to perform CPR on the young man who had sadly already died.
The 23-year-old had left a note on his bed saying “sorry mum” as well as a laptop which, on examination, revealed he had searched for methods of hanging twice in the previous two months.
Senior coroner for Buckinghamshire Crispin Butler heard that the young car mechanic had attended a walking group the day before his suicide, where he had reportedly been in good spirits, had discussed his mother's birthday and had made plans to see a friend.
Medical evidence revealed Riaz had been diagnosed by mental health services as suffering with hypomania in 2016 and he had subsequently suffered with bipolar disorder, for which he was taking medication.
In a statement read out by the coroner’s officer, Riaz’s stepfather David Cannings described finding his stepson on June 7 at their home in Micklefield Road.
He said: “I entered the house through the front door. The curtains were closed, as that is how we usually left them when people were out.
“I went straight upstairs to grab some money and went to the shop to buy a newspaper. I was gone for five or 10 minutes.
“I arrived home again between 15:45 and 15:50 and went through to the dining room to open the curtains. When I did I was horrified to see legs hanging from outside the upstairs window. I knew the legs were Riaz because of his trainers.”
Mr Cannings had rushed into the back garden to find Riaz hanging.
He ran to find help and returned with a neighbour, Gary Pengelly, who had been on the street restoring his vintage car.
Mr Pengelly, in evidence read by the coroner’s officer, said: “He came looking ashen-faced and shocked. He didn't say what he needed help with. When he got to his front door, David turned to me and told me that his son had hanged himself.”
Mr Cannings said he had heard an intake of breath when Riaz was brought down, which he had taken to mean Riaz was still alive.
He had initially put his stepson in the recovery position but a 999 operator had instructed him to lay him on his back and begin CPR.
Police officers and ambulance crews arrived minutes later and attached Riaz to a drip and injected him with medication. An air ambulance was called to the scene but Riaz was pronounced dead and was not taken to hospital.
Detective Constable Manwinder Purewal said a forensic examination of the house was carried out.
He said: “There were notes on the bedroom floor which had ‘anxiety rating’ on it. A list of events that Riaz took part of rating of how it made him feel on a scale of one to 10. There were also positivity lists.”
Summing up Mr Butler said: “I don't see any indication from the evidence about anything untoward in the medication taken. The manner used requires planning, there is evidence that planning was carried out.”
He recorded a conclusion of suicide.
For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for more details.
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