A healthy young man who 'loved life' tragically took his own life at a country park in Stockport after sending a heart breaking final Snapchat message to his girlfriend. Jake Burton, 24 was discovered dead in Reddish Vale Country Park in the early hours of July 9 last year by a dog walker.
The man, who didn't have a history of mental health issues, was found dead with a very high level of cocaine and alcohol in his system, Manchester Evening News reports. Jake had been at a party with his on and off girlfriend the night before his death where he had consumed both drugs and the couple had fallen out after getting into an argument, an inquest at Stockport Coroner's Court heard.
The girlfriend temporarily blocked his number before receiving a Snapchat message from Jake on July 9 at around 6am with a rope around his neck. She contacted his mother, Debbie Burton and they both went to Reddish Vale Park where the 24-year-old was tragically found dead.
Mr Burton, who worked as a plumber lived with his mother in Stockport and had met his girlfriend in the summer of 2021. His girlfriend told the court that he regularly took cocaine both at the weekends and sometimes in the week and his mood would become 'aggressive'.
She said: "When he wasn't using cocaine he was kind and caring. By Autumn 2021 our relationship had changed and we would often break up before getting back together.
"After one argument he said he didn’t want to be here anymore. He said he had messed up his life and just wanted to make his mum proud.
"He wasn’t happy with his life and often talked about taking his life but never said how he intended to do this." The evening before Jake's death, he had met her at her house where they drank alcohol together and were also using gas canisters and balloons.
The couple were invited to a party at a Rugby Club in Stockport by a friend later on in the night which they both attended. She said: "He did cocaine and spent most of the night in the car park with his friends.
"Before we left we argued because he had been talking to a girl. We got a taxi and I tried to persuade him to go to his mums but he said he didn't want her to see him like that.
"We had another argument and he stormed off. I went looking for him and found him at Reddish Vale and we started arguing again.
He left and I phoned him because I thought he may have gone back to the party. We exchanged some unpleasant messages and I blocked him.
"At 6am I received a Snapchat message from Jake. He had a rope around his neck. I contacted his mum and eventually we both went to Reddish Vale and discovered what had happened."
Jake's heartbroken mother, Debbie said her son was a 'healthy' and 'fit' young man who had not suffered from any previous mental health problems, an inquest heard. The last time she saw Jake was the night before his death when he had briefly come home to get ready before heading out to the party with his girlfriend.
She said: "He said he had to get up for work the following day and asked me to make sure he didn’t oversleep. He put his arms around me and told me loved me.
"Jake loved playing computer games, spending time with friends and working. If a neighbour came round and needed something done he wouldn’t hesitate to help them. He was looking forward to a family holiday later in the year and loved life."
Police Coroner's Officer, David Wood, told the hearing that Jake was discovered dead in Reddish Vale Country Park by a dog walker who tried to help but described him as "unresponsive". Mr Burton was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspicion circumstances were ruled out and no notes indicating an intention to take his own life were discovered. A toxicology report by Dr Stephanie Martin concluded that Jake was about the legal drink drive alcohol limit and had a very high level of cocaine in his system which was consistent with fatalities in some instances. His cause of death was recorded as hanging.
Area Coroner for Greater Manchester South, Chris Morris, said he couldn't determine whether or not Mr Burton had intended to take his own life due to his high intoxication levels. He said: "Whilst I note he has died as a result of hanging I am very conscious of the toxicology results.
"He had a very high level of cocaine in his system of the magnitude which has been associated with fatality. He also has a level of alcohol higher than the drink-drive limit.
"He didn’t have a particular history of mental health and he had things to be looking forward to. There were no notes confirming he intended to kill himself. His level of intoxication was such that I can’t say that he intended to bring about his death."
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