A heartbroken mum was found dead in the same woods where her son committed suicide after telling her family she 'couldn't survive without him'.
Young footballer Ethan Hardman was found dead in a woods in Lancashire, on October 14 last year just a few months after he turned 16.
Devastated mum Camille raised the alarm when Ethan failed to return home from his dad's house. Several days after his death, Camille was taken to a mental health hospital after her family feared for her safety. It was claimed she had repeatedly expressed suicidal thoughts, LancsLive reports.
At a recent inquest, it was heard Camille was allowed out to attend Ethan's funeral, but had continued to voice her intention to end her life.
Partner Richard Benson had continued to support Camille, as well as her siblings and the community mental health team, but Camille said she "no longer felt able to survive without Ethan".
On December 8, just six weeks after Ethan's death, Camille walked to the spot where he had died and took her own life aged 45.
Extracts from a statement by Camille's partner Richard was read out at an inquest at Preston Coroner's Court today. It described how her mental health had been "extremely fragile" after Ethan's death.
He persuaded Camille to stay at his home in Leeds after the funeral but police were called when she left his house and booked herself into a hotel for three days.
Officers from West Yorkshire Police visited Camille at the hotel but only spoke to her through the door. Camille's family said had they gone inside the room they would have seen items bought in order to end her life.
Area Coroner Kate Bisset described the force's actions as "appalling" and also criticised them for failing to inform Richard of Camille's death when asked to do so by Lancashire Constabulary. On the morning of December 8, after Camille had moved back to her home in Walton-le-Dale, Tony Gardner was walking his dog before heading to work when he came across her sat on the footpath in a wooded area.
In a statement he later told police: "I said 'good morning, it's a bit cold to be sitting on the path' and she seemed a bit wistful. I felt it was a bit suspicious and then she said 'just over there my son killed himself six weeks ago'.
"I realised who she was. Ethan was a similar age to my son who knew him."
Mr Gardner said he helped Camille to her feet and was reassured she was going home. Later that afternoon he saw a Facebook post she made in which she seemed a "bit more upbeat". Mr Gardner messaged Camille inviting her to go for a walk but she didn't reply and a few days later he discovered she had been found dead.
Mr Gardner said he was "shocked and horrified". He said he would "always wonder if there was anything different" he could have done.
Area Coroner Kate Bisset addressed his concerns and said his concern was a "reflection of his kindness" and added: "He is not responsible and did everything he could including reaching out to her."
Detective Inspector Mark Riley, the senior investigating officer, said that when police searched Camille's home they found several pictures of Ethan on the sofa. She had left her home via a side gate which her family said was so "concerned neighbours wouldn't have been alerted to her leaving" and so she wasn't captured on her Ring doorbell camera.
Camille's family praised the community mental health team who they said did "everything they could" but added that as an intelligent woman she was capable of convincing people she was ok when she wasn't. When she was struggling with her grief she would say that she had "lost her purpose" and was "constantly thinking about what had happened" to Ethan.
GP Dr Manoon Nair said Camille was last seen at a face-to-face appointment on December 5. Medical notes indicated she stated she had no suicidal thoughts and was "hoping to get better".
The inquest heard on December 8 Camille's sister Dana called police after discovering Camille wasn't at home and had left her phone.
Returning a conclusion of suicide the coroner said: "Camille, understandably, was destroyed by the loss of her much-loved son and her heart was broken beyond repair. She suffered from catastrophic grief.
"The loss of her only child is unthinkable. It was unsurvivable for Camille. She felt no longer able to survive. Her family has suffered enough tragedy for 100 lifetimes.
"Suicide tears lives apart and sends shockwaves through families and communities. The world is never a better place through the loss of any life through suicide."
You don't have to suffer in silence if you're struggling with your mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, seeking advice from a GP can be a good first step towards further treatment. Alternatively, visit the Scottish Association of Mental Health website here for more information, resources and advice.
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