A teenage pupil was found dead in his room at a £39,000-a-year boarding school after returning from an evening drinking with his friends.
James Pickering, known as 'Jimmy' to friends, had depression in the months before he was found hanged in his room at Malvern College.
The talented rugby player, described as the "talisman" of the college team, was discovered by friends on the morning of Sunday, January 9 this year.
Worcestershire Coroners' Court heard the night before the 18-year-old died, he drank between eight and 10 pints of beer with friends and had been in "good spirits".
During the pub crawl in Malvern, Worcestershire, he took photos of himself with his friends and sent them to his family.
Worcestershire's senior coroner David Reid told yesterday's hearing James had been applying for university ,but had been struggling with his mental health before his death.
He said his GP described him as feeling low and suffering panic attacks when he saw him in October 2020.
James also complained of poor sleep and his doctor was concerned he had depression.
He was referred to a child and adolescent psychiatrist and had also been prescribed anti-depressants.
James was also seeing a counsellor and told a psychiatrist he "enjoyed school", adding he struggled with not being at school, missing socialising and sports.
He suffered a severe gastrointestinal infection in October 2019 and again in January 2020 leading to him having three months off school.
Mr Pickering's father Alec told the inquest: "After this, he struggled to bounce back as one might have expected."
The coroner gave the cause of death as asphyxia caused by hanging.
Mr Reid said: "It may have been his intention to take his own life. It may not."
Malvern College is a £39,000-a-year independent school which counts CS Lewis, Sir Chris Whitty and Jeremy Paxman among its alumni.
Speaking after the inquest, which was held in Stourport-on-Severn, headmaster Keith Metcalfe, said: "James was a popular and well-respected member of the school who will be sadly missed by pupils and staff.
"He epitomised the qualities we look for in our pupils: a successful academic, actively involved in sport and a strong contributor to the arts.
"James, who was on standby for Gloucester Rugby's Under 18s, has been described as the 'talisman' of our rugby team and demanded high standards of himself and others.
"He was vice-captain of the 1st XV rugby team, and awarded Man of the Match on many occasions, typically in the most challenging games.
"He also scored the fastest hundred for Malvern U14 cricket in 34 balls. His photographic skills were used to create last year's Malvern College Christmas Card.
"He was one of the most respected and admired members of the school."
Richard Howitt, James's Housemaster, said: "James was an outstanding young man.
"He was very well-liked by all those in his House. He was a great friend and, in his role as Deputy Head of House, showed real leadership qualities.
"I have no doubt that he would have made a positive contribution to the world, and he will be very much missed by everyone who knew him.
"He brought joy to the lives of all those whose paths he crossed during his time here at Malvern.
"He was at the centre of everything that we did as a House, and without that strong, kind, loyal centre, we as a community are left hollow with his passing."
He said that despite James' struggles he was improving, adding: "It was like he had a spring back in his step."
His father Alec described his son as "a very outgoing person" who was "kind, sensitive and thoughtful".
He also said his son was a "diligent young man" who was "good at sport", particularly rugby where he played in the position of hooker.
In a statement, read out by the coroner, Mr Pickering said his son was "very open" and someone who "wore his heart on his sleeve".
Since his death, his friends set up a James Pickering Foundation which has so far raised more than £45,000 which his family will donate to mental health and teenage suicide charities.
One friend said: "I can't think of anyone here who would have anything bad to say about him."
