A grieving young father died by suicide just weeks after his dad's death, leaving the family heartbroken.
The body of Nicky Larkin was found near a stables in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. The 29-year-old was discovered in Bridgend, where his daughter was learning to ride horses.
His family say he died on October 23 after struggling to cope with the impact of father Roy’s passing, WalesOnline report. The grandad was found dead at his bungalow in Bridgend ages 64 in August, Nicky’s mum Julie Larkin said.
The distraught parent said her son was “the most loving, hard-working man who adored his children” and suffered with depression. It’s been heartbreaking for our whole family, we’re in bits,” Julie, 57, said.
“Roy was a good father to Nicky and a good partner to me for 37 years. I was still with him when he died.”
Julie, who has three other children, said while Nicky had depression he had been “coping with” his struggles well before his father died.
“He hasn’t been right since Roy died. He did have mental health issues and they worsened after that. I wasn’t worried about him before Roy died.”
Nicky often walked passed the farm with his daughter Katie, son Tommy, and partner Sian on a weekend. There was no indication he would take his life before he was found near the farm last weekend, Julie said. “He went there most weeks, he’d walk up usually, he was happy there,” she said.
Julie, who has three other children, said while Nicky had depression he had been “coping with” his struggles well before his father died. “He hasn’t been right since Roy died. He did have mental health issues and they worsened after that. I wasn’t worried about him before Roy died.”
Nicky often walked passed the farm with his daughter Katie, son Tommy, and partner Sian on a weekend. There was no indication he would take his life before he was found near the farm last weekend, Julie said. “He went there most weeks, he’d walk up usually, he was happy there,” she said.
“He was a lovely, lovely boy. A happy go lucky man, a selfless man, and an amazingly hard worker. He loved his children and his family. He was extremely popular.”
Nicky, who idolised his father, followed in dad Roy’s footsteps as a plasterer. Both men could “turn their hands to anything,” Julie said. “Roy was a good man,” she recalled. “He was going through a lot with the cancer before he died.
“As a family we lived a very normal life before Roy’s death. Everything was great. We had our problems but we worked through them. But everything has changed.”
Julie said she doesn’t know how she is going to be able to afford her son’s funeral without help. The community has rallied around her with fundraising endeavours in the hope they can raise enough money.
The Eden nightclub in Bridgend is also hosting an event on November 11 where all earnings on the door will go towards Nicky’s funeral.
Family friends Alisha Harris and Stevie Hoey have organised much of the fundraising. Alisha said: "Sammy [Nicky's sister] and I have grown up together, I couldn't watch them struggling to pay for another funeral after losing Roy too. I was contacted by the owner of Eden - the biggest club in Bridgend - to do a night where he charges £2 entry at the door to raise as much as we can for the funeral for Nicky.
"They've kindly agreed to host the night on Friday, November 11, and the Wildmill Shop will have a collection there for any additional donations. We have also started collecting donations from local businesses and have had so many generous donations for the raffle. The whole community just wants Nicky to have the send off he deserves."
You can see the main fundraiser here.
*If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .
