A 13-year-old schoolboy from Sunderland left a girl he had a crush on a heartbreaking voicemail "to say goodbye" before his tragic death, an inquest heard.
Bailey Reay was found unresponsive at his grandmother's home where he lived in Houghton-le-Spring on December 19, 2020. Emergency services were called but he was tragically pronounced dead leaving his family and friends devastated.
An inquest was held at City Hall on Wednesday which heard how Bailey lived with his grandmother but on December 18, he was left in the care of his grandmother's aunt and they spent some time together eating pizza. Bailey also spent some time in his room playing on his PlayStation.
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But by midday on December 19, Bailey was found unresponsive and the emergency services were called but he tragically passed away. Bailey was found in his room with an empty bottle of medication that was prescribed to his grandmother.
A post-mortem was carried out and toxicology was taken and it was found that Bailey had alcohol and medication, which was eight times a large therapeutic dose, in his system. The pathologist found that Bailey died as a result of the effects of the medication and alcohol which it was heard can impact the central nervous system.
The inquest heard there were a number of things that caused Bailey concern including "difficult family dynamics" and school though recent records suggested he had got back into school and that it seemed to be going well.
Following Bailey's death, some concerns were raised over the issue of bullying and police seized his computer and mobile phone which was protected by a pin. However, the inquest heard that nothing specific was identified.
However, they did find a voicemail that Bailey had left a girl who he had a crush on which said: "I have had a crush on you for the longest time so I guess this is goodbye."
Assistant coroner, Karin Welsh, said Bailey had admitted taking medication in the voicemail he left to his crush and recorded a verdict of suicide. She told his family: "Why doesn't fall within the remit of an inquest. There were a number of factors in Bailey's life that must have been causing him concern."
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