A young mechanic who took his own life whilst suffering from depression was deeply affected by witnessing a horrific crash several years ago, an inquest heard.
The body of Steven David Price, 25, was discovered at the family home in the village of Elton, near Chester, on November 16 last year.
An inquest on Wednesday heard Mr Price was on medication for depression and was also heavily in debt. A coroner ruled his death to be suicide, reports Cheshire Live.
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In a statement read during the hearing at Warrington Coroner's Court, Mr Price's mother, Joanne Jacks, said her son had got into "a lot of debt" - most of which she was unaware of until his death.
She added that Steven had witnessed a fatal crash back in 2016 which resulted in the death of a young boy, and this had a long-lasting impact on him.
She also said her son, who was born in Chester, had also been affected by a relationship separation and the fact his father had been absent.
"He said he didn't want to be here", Ms Jacks said in her statement.
"He was suffering from low moods and depression but just wouldn't talk to me about it. He didn't want you to know or worry about him."
Ms Jacks said she last saw her son on the morning of November 16 when she went in his bedroom to wake him up, so that he wouldn't be late for work at 8am.
She sent him a text message later to say his tea was in the microwave as she and her husband Brian wouldn't be returning home until 9.30pm that night. That evening, Detective Constable Nigel Moore was asked to attend the house following reports of "a sudden, unexpected death".
When he entered he discovered Steven's body, the inquest heard. Despite attempts to revive him, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. To make a donation in his memory click here.
Following Steven's death, Joanne's brother Gareth Roberts set up an online fundraising page 'In memory of Steven' as the family were keen to support the mental health charity, Mind.
"He was a typical 25-year-old lad. On the face of it a happy-go-lucky, car-loving son, brother, uncle, nephew, and cousin" the page states.
"He had his problems but no one could have known the depth of his despair until he took his life on 16th November 2021 leaving a letter expressing that he felt he was a failure and apologising for causing distress by how he left.
"By donating to the Mind charity in memory of Steve you are helping them to support people with mental health problems and hopefully to support people in averting similar tragedies for them and their families."
