By Staff reporter

Last updated at 12:10, Friday, 16 November 2012

A man who had recently split from his long-term partner killed himself, an inquest has heard.

Russell Arthur Hunter, 42, of Devon Road, Whitehaven, was found dead by his brother Grant Hunter on March 28.

Two builders working nearby contacted paramedics and tried to help revive him, but were unable to.

Assistant deputy coroner Robert Chapman ruled that Mr Hunter had intended to take his own life.

A post-mortem report concluded the cause of death was hanging. A toxicology report said Mr Hunter had a low level of the painkiller Tramadol in his system and an amount of Mephedrone.

The inquest heard that in the month leading up to his death, Mr Hunter had a turbulent relationship with his former partner, and mother of three of his children.

An assessment was carried out by staff in the Crisis Team, after Mr Hunter said he intended to kill himself, following the break-up.

Elaine Graham, Crisis Team practitioner, said: “I concluded that there wasn’t a risk that he’d take his own life. His next main step was to see his partner and try to be reunited in their relationship.”

The inquest heard that over the following weeks, there was a number of arguments between the estranged couple.

The inquest heard Grant Hunter went to his brother’s home at around lunchtime and found him dead. He had written a suicide note to Miss Eilbeck.

Miss Eilbeck says she went to her ex-partner’s home, just hours before he hanged himself, as he had contacted her.

She said: “He was distraught and crying. He asked if we could sort things out. I said I’d never have him back but said the kids could see him whenever they wanted.”

Coroner Mr Chapman told Mr Hunter’s family: “There is nothing that you could have done. He had got this into his mind and he would have taken the opportunity at another time to do this.”

First published at 11:44, Friday, 16 November 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk