Suicidal son sends mum video as he prepares to kill himself - but she opens it SIX HOURS too late

A YOUNG dad preparing to commit suicide sent a video of himself to his mum - but she received the film six hours too late to save him. Craig Westby, 26, lost "interest in life" and hanged himself after his girlfriend ended their relationship, an inquest heard.

Tragic Craig Westby sent video to his mum

Moments before taking his life, the dad-of-one sent footage of his chilling preparations to his mum Beverley Alexander. Beverley, of Congleton, Cheshire, told North Staffordshire’s senior coroner Ian Smith how her son had talked about killing himself in the past.

And three days before he died, Craig, who worked as a storeman, sent another text his mum. He asked her which would be the best method to kill himself. She said: "I ignored it and tried to talk about other things and be positive with him. I didn't acknowledge the question."


At 1am on July 2, Craig sent his mother a picture and a video of himself preparing to take his own life.
But the inquest at Stoke-on-Trent heard that she did not receive the messages until 7am.

Beverley added: "He became upset at the beginning of the year when he broke up with his girlfriend.
"He used to send me texts saying 'this life is not for me' and 'I can't deal with it'. "I used to try and talk him around and make things OK. I didn't really think he was serious.

Craig Westby took his own life

"He had talked about killing himself before and it upset me quite a lot and upset everybody else in the family, so I didn't tell anybody about the texts." Stepdad Alexander Alexander, who discovered Craig's body, added: "He dearly wanted to be back with his ex-girlfriend and it was getting him down a lot, but I would never have thought he would do what he did.

"My wife kept a lot of things to herself about it. He would talk to his mum more than he would talk to anyone else. "He wasn't very forthcoming with personal feelings. He was my son and he was just hanging there. There was nothing we could do."

The coroner recorded the cause of death as hanging and concluded that Craig had committed suicide.
Mr Smith said: "He got himself into such a state of mind that he felt that there was no way out but to take his own life.

"Men are not as able to face the breakdown of a relationship in the same way as women can, that is known. So, I believe that his intention was to take his own life." Talk to the Samaritans on 08457 909090 or Mental Health Helpline on 0808 800 2234 for advice on dealing with depression or suicide.