A 'hard-working and funny' dad-of-two took his own life after a mental health battle, an inquest heard.
Gareth Lancaster, 29, known as ‘Gas Gaz’ due to his plumbing work, was found hanged at his home on Baytree Road in Wigan by his fiancée Tandia Constantine.
An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court heard how she ran to a neighbours to raise the alarm and an ambulance was called at 8pm on June 8. Gareth received 30 minutes of CPR, from bystanders and then paramedics, before being rushed to Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.
READ MORE: 'Life will never be the same again': Family devastated by shock death of young dad-of-two
Gareth was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit in the early hours of June 9 but a CT scan confirmed he had an unsurvivable brain injury, and he did not regain consciousness. The court heard how, on June 10, his family made the agonising decision to withdraw his life support.
Gareth leaves behind his fiancée Tandia, 22-month-old daughter Annie and seven-month-old son Albert, as well as his father Graham and siblings Jonathan, Ryan, Megan and Declan. Tragically the family lost Gareth's mother, Adele, to cancer two years ago.
Coroner Peter Sigee read out a statement from Gareth's father Graham Lancaster, who described his son as "outgoing, hard-working and funny". He said he was not aware of any concerns regarding Gareth's wellbeing and was shocked when he received a call from Tandia to say his son had been found hanged.
The court heard Gareth had never been diagnosed with mental health problems, although he had expressed feelings of low mood and anger in February 2019 and had been directed through his own GP to anger management resources.
The inquest heard Tandia said Gareth had told her he was struggling with his mental health "but was not the kind of person who would seek help for it". In a police statement read out in court, she said: "Since his mother died of cancer he had kept his emotions to himself."
Coroner, Peter Sigee concluded Gareth, whose blood alcohol level was high at the time of the hospital admission, had died of a brain injury due to hanging. He gave a conclusion of death by suicide.
Gareth's family were planning his 30th birthday party for October. Best friend Aiden Wilson, who grew up with Gareth, was away on holiday when he heard the new and was unable to drive home because of the shock.
“I should have been planning a best man speech not carrying his coffin,” Mr Wilson said. “When I first heard the news I thought it was a joke, he was fit and healthy.
"He was a real family man. He was a workaholic who would work five or six days a week to provide for his family.
“He was not just my best friend, he was like my brother. He was a caring and energetic lad as well as a loving father who adored his children.
“Everything he did in his life was for his family. He will be missed by everyone. Life will never be the same again.”
READ NEXT:
- UK issued warning over 'significant risk' of gas shortages this winter
- Third of social care workers find their salary too low to live on
- Mum’s shock after smart meter told her she spent £40,000 in a single day
- How much you'll pay for energy from now under new price guarantee
- 'I kept warm for just 9p an hour - and dried my washing with Lakeland three-tier heated airer'
