A heartbroken close-knit family have tragically become the third to lose loved ones who were all part of the same friendship group. Shaun Hughes, a 52-year-old warehouse worker, unexpectedly went missing after a night out with family and friends and was found passed away the following morning by a dog walker at a park in his home town of Newton Abbot.
An inquest at Plymouth Coroner’s Court yesterday, January 15, heard Mr Hughes' friend had ended his life at the same park less than a week previously. He had also lost another close friend through suicide in recent times.
In a statement, his daughter Tiffany told how Mr Hughes had not been in good health and suffered from heart problems. She described how they had a good relationship and would often go to the pub together, including on November 3, 2022, just three days before his death when he was said to have been in 'good spirits' and had just moved back into his girlfriend's home.
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She told how they met at the pub again two days later for birthday celebrations and said he had been having a good time but then suddenly left and began sending her and his loved ones WhatsApp messages which gave them concern for his welfare.
Despite immediately replying to his messages and searching for him, they were unable to locate him that night and were devastated to be told of his death the following morning.
A close friend, Mark Holding, who had been drinking with Mr Hughes before he went missing told in a statement that he had witnessed Mr Hughes threaten to harm himself before the previous Christmas. He said their friendship group had been rocked by the death of Mike Ray, a 34-year-old Newton Abbot dad who was found passed away at a park in the town on October 30, 2022.
He had been battling with his mental health for many years and his death prompted his family to call for more support to help people struggling with their mental health to prevent any further tragedies. The inquest heard another friend, Andy Darby, 53, passed away in August 2022.
Mr Holding said: "I felt Shaun was in a bad place at the time of his death. We are both of a generation of blokes who really don't talk about our problems. After the deaths of our friends I made it clear he could talk to me anytime."
He recalled that on November 5, he had followed Mr Hughes out of the pub when he suddenly 'stormed off'. He said: "He refused to talk or engage with me so I told him to go home and sleep it off."
The cause of his death was suspension by ligature. Toxicology tests showed he had consumed a significant amount of alcohol and had also taken cocaine which would have increased risk-taking behaviour and later possibly resulted in possible low mood and suicidal thoughts.
Shatter the Silence
The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage anyone struggling to reach out and talk - to either a friend, relative, charity or a professional. Our campaign content will highlight just how important talking is and the difference it can make.
Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Devon. We will highlight where to get help and show how talking has helped people come through difficult times in their lives. We will speak to families who have lost loved ones to look at the lasting impact of suicide and attempt to dismiss the inaccurate belief many people who are struggling manifest that they are a burden on the ones they love. We will look at the devastation caused to those left behind in the hope that even one reader might change their mind if they have considered taking their own life.
We will speak to people who have survived a suicide attempt and have accessed counselling or other mental health services to show that things can get better. We will speak to Samaritans volunteers about their vital work in Devon and how they are on hand 24-7 to listen. And we will offer guidance on what to say to someone who is struggling so people feel more confident to have that conversation.
Do you have a relevant story to share? Email emma.slee@reachplc.com.
WHERE TO GET HELP:
SAMARITANS offers support in a range of ways, including a self-help app, email support or by calling 116 123 for free 24 hours a day
NHS Offers advice on how to access mental health support
TALKWORKS is a free-to-access NHS service offering a variety of treatment and support for adults (aged 18+) living in Devon (excluding Plymouth)
CALM offer a free, confidential helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat, 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life's problems
HUB OF HOPE is a mental health support database that can signpost you to local support services
ANDY'S MAN CLUB offers men a chance to talk with like-minded people. They have clubs in Devon as well as nationally
KOOTH & QWELL provides free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support, including moderated peer support forums and text-based counselling, to all residents living in Devon (aged 11+)
PETE'S DRAGONS provide free-to-access support to all residents living in Devon who may have been bereaved by suicide at any point in their lives
THE MOORINGS is an emotional support service that provides telephone and face-to-face support via a drop-in service at its bases in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay. It is a non-clinical service but provides emotional support, signposting to other services and other general support that is tailored to the people who access it.
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Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances and that the park where he was located was an 'area of concern' due to the number of suicides that had taken place there.
Detective constable Katherine Nicholson said: "There is a suggestion this in itself was a copycat death."
Recording a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Sarah Le Fevre said: "Shaun took his own life by hanging while he was intoxicated. I cannot be satisfied that is what he intended to do. Sometimes they are a cry for help."
She commended his family and friends for the immediate responses that gave to his concerning messages stating it showed the 'close and loving connections' he had in his life. She also praised the help and dignity they had shown throughout the inquest process and offered her condolences.
