CLOSE friends found the body of a man, who took his life near Gurnard Beach, the Isle of Wight Coroner's Court heard last week.

Coroner Caroline Sumeray heard how Samuel Pritchard, 30, of The Green, Cowes, was discovered by friends who had begun searching the area after spotting his car abandoned on Woodvale Road on April 27.

His mother, Dawn Thistlewood, became increasingly concerned after she discovered her son had not been to work for three days.

After friends and family were unable to get in contact with Mr Pritchard, Ms Thistlewood called police to alert them he was missing.

The court heard how Mr Pritchard had struggled with severe anxiety and depression for a number of years, exacerbated by his father's death in 2015.

Speaking to the County Press earlier in the year, Mrs Thistlewood, said: "Sam struggled with his mental health. Everything affected him deeply.

"He wanted to change the world, wanted it to be a better place. He wasn't equipped to deal with the cruel things people do.

"As you get older, society expects certain things of you. He felt that he was never good enough, but he was."

Mr Pritchard was discovered in a wooded area, a short walk from Gurnard Sailing Club.

Mrs Sumeray said: "I understand the significance of this place, it's where his father's ashes were scattered.

"It is clear this was a young man who was struggling with his mental health.

"I am satisfied, based on the evidence I have seen, that the appropriate conclusion is that he took his own life." Mrs Sumeray concluded that Mr Pritchard died as a result of suicide, by hanging.

  • Samaritans -116 123 24 hour support, every day of the year www.samaritans.org
  • Papyrus  0800 068 41 41 Monday to Friday 10am to 10pm, weekends 2pm to 10pm, bank holidays 2pm to 10pm or Text 0778 620 9697 – prevention of young suicide www.papyrus-uk.org
  • Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) – 0800 58 58 58, 5pm – midnight. Dedicated to preventing male suicide www.thecalmzone.net
  • Mind - 0300 123 3393, 9am - 6pm, Mon - Fri (except Bank Holidays). Advises on a range of mental health issues www.mind.org.uk  
  • Young Minds - 0808 802 5544, 9.30am - 4pm, Mon - Fri. Supports any adult worried about a child’s welfare www.youngminds.org.uk
  • The Mix - 0808 808 4994, 2pm - 11pm, Mon - Sun. Helpline for people under the age of 25 www.themix.org.uk