A 'troubled' dad who took his own life was scared his unborn child may be taken away, an inquest heard.
Talented musician Christopher Knott, from Stockport, died in hospital six days after taking an overdose of a number of prescription drugs.
The 26-year-old fell unconscious the morning after fleeing the hotel room he was sharing with his pregnant partner and being discovered following a frantic search.
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A coroner has ruled Mr Knott, who suffered from "very significant" mental health issues, intended to take his own life and that the fear of his child being taken into care due to his drug-taking was having a "significant impact" on him.
His family has, who said he was "not a bad lad" have now paid a moving tribute to him and said his death has had a devastating effect on their lives.
Mr Knott struggled with mental health problems for most of his life, the hearing was told.
He was said to be suffering from borderline schizophrenia. However, he had a phobia of hospitals and refused to engage with specialist mental health services. As a result, his parents said they believe he may have been misdiagnosed.
Mr Knott, began taking drugs as a teenager and after leaving home was homeless for periods, the hearing was told.
His mum Beverley Knott said: "It was as if there were two sides to Christopher"
"He was very talented and was very loving and caring," she said.
However, she said he was also "very troubled" and at times "lived his life in a way very different to anyone else."
Around the time of his death, in May last year, he had moved into a hotel and was staying with his partner, who has five months pregnant.
One of Mr Knott's other children had been put up for adoption at birth the inquest heard.
And giving evidence during the hearing, his father David Knott said: "Personally I think he was scared.
"He had already lost one of his children because of his drug-taking and I think he was scared he was going to lose the other child."
On May 20, last year, Mr Knott's parents were alerted by his partner that following an "argument" at around 5pm, he had left their room after threatening to take an overdose.
Unbeknown to his partner and parents, around 6.20pm that evening, he rang his GP surgery in Rochdale, and quizzed the receptionist on what would constitute a lethal overdose.
He then had a long conversation with one of the surgery's GPs to whom he would not reveal where he was, but did disclose that he had taken what was described as a 'very significant' overdose of a number of drugs.
He also told the doctor, who alerted police, that he wanted to end his own life.
That sparked a frantic search with police visiting the hotel where he had been staying, before Mr Knott was found nearby by his parents.
He had been hiding in a bin in order to try and not be found and due to his phobia, he refused to go to hospital the inquest was told.
His family said they feared he would flee again and lie low if they alerted medics.
Police Coroner's Officer Andrew Stevenson from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) also told the hearing that officers also took the decision not to approach him once he had been found so as to not "inflame the situation"
Christopher's parents took him for something to eat before escorting him to their home in the Cheadle Heath area of Stockport.
He did not disclose details of what he had taken, with his father saying "he just said he taken some of his tablets."
As a result his family sat watching him throughout the night. And they immediately raised the alarm when around 10am the following morning, May 21, he stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest.
Resuscitation attempts were initially successful and he spent several days being treated in hospital, however, his condition worsened and he died at Stepping Hill on May 26.
A post-mortem found he died of Bronchopneumonia due to a hypoxic brain injury caused by a Cardiorespiratory arrest.
Toxicology analysis found he had ingested a number of drugs. Several he was not currently being prescribed and the origin of them was unclear, the hearing was told.
Coroner Christopher Morris recorded a conclusion of suicide at South Manchester Coroner's Court in Stockport on Monday following what he said was a "deeply tragic case."
"I have heard he was someone with many good qualities. He was funny, he was talented, and could be very caring" he said.
"Clearly he was also someone who had more than his fair share of troubles in his life.
"He had some very significant mental health problems, the precise nature of which I don't think was ever truly appreciated and understood.
"He also became involved, at various stages in his life, with the drug scene which will have caused him further problems.
"On May 20 last year, he had some kind of argument or exchange of words with his partner.
"He was obviously in a state of heightened anxiety.
"He was concerned his unborn child may be taken into care. Something which is clear was having a significant effect on him."
Mr Morris said after finding him, his parents were placed in an "invidious" position and that they had "done everything could" for him.
Mr Morris said he believed it was probable Mr Knott, who had a history of self-harm, had taken the overdose with the intention of taking his own life and that 'inevitably' he had to record a conclusion of suicide.
In a statement following the hearing, Christopher's parents, and his sister Jen McAndrew, said Christopher was a loving father, son and brother and that his death had left a huge hold in their lives.
They told the Manchester Evening News: "He was kind, he was caring.
"He was very talented. He was a fantastic musician. That is where he found his inner peace, through his music.
"We knew he loved us.
"He thought the world of his kids, and would do anything for them if he was allowed.
"He was also very protective of his sister.
"He liked traveling around and liked the open space.
"He had a hard life. But he wasn't a bad lad and was trying to make a go of things."
Speaking about the impact his death had had on them they said: "It's just devastating.
"We're struggling to come to terms with it. I don't think there are any words to properly describe it.
"We will have to live with this for the rest of our lives.
"The inquest has also held us back in terms of grieving as well I think.
"It's like a piece of us has gone.
"Fortunately we have his children and can make sure they remember what a crazy dad they had."
