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Tragedy of Murston schoolboy Charlie Kelsey-Neil who died when escapology stunt went wrong

Charlie Kelsey-Neil accidentally hanged himself at his home in Murston
Charlie Kelsey-Neil accidentally hanged himself at his home in Murston

A 12-year-old boy accidentally hanged himself after an escapology stunt went wrong, an inquest heard.

Charlie Kelsey-Neil was found by a younger sibling at the family home in Murston, Sittingbourne.

An inquest into his death, held at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone, heard how Charlie had a keen interest in knots, survival techniques and fishing. He was also a big fan of TV magicians.

"All his friends have nothing but good things to say about him and he is sorely missed, we all loved him so much..." - family statement

His mother Caroline, 31, and her 26-year-old partner Jovan Neil tried to revive him at their home in Burnup Bank before he was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital, in Gillingham.

Once there, doctors tried to resuscitate Charlie, but he was pronounced dead at 9.45pm on October 16 last year.

Mr Neil said: "He was not interested in looking on the internet, but when he did it was about fishing and magic tricks.

"He became really interested in Dynamo, who does street magic, and he would watch his show whenever it was on."

Two weeks before his death, the Year 8 pupil - who had attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - very loosely put an internet cord around his neck and jokingly faked a hangman's stance in a history class at the Orchard School in Canterbury.

But it was not seen as a cry for help, the inquest heard.

He had never given any indication that he wanted to harm himself and he had a track record of playing with knots, something which he developed from his passion for fishing, the coroner was told.

Schoolboy Charlie Kelsey-Neil had a keen interest in knots, survival techniques and fishing
Schoolboy Charlie Kelsey-Neil had a keen interest in knots, survival techniques and fishing

Coroner Patricia Harding ruled out suicide and found no evidence of third-party involvement.

She concluded his death was the "unintentional consequence of a deliberate act".

In a joint statement, Charlie's family said: "Charlie was a lovely boy with a real get up and go personality. He loved the outdoors and would even camp in the garden.

"He was a good brother and very protective of his siblings. He was always there for them and his smile could light up any room.

"All his friends have nothing but good things to say about him and he is sorely missed, we all loved him so much."

The inquest was at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone
The inquest was at Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone

After the inquest, Charlie's mother described how he used to tie himself up and then try to escape.

Caroline Neil, said when he was very young Charlie would play with the rope from her dressing gown.

She also said he had an obsession with Spiderman when he was younger.

Charlie's stepfather Jovan Neil had told the inquest: "He never indicated he
wanted to kill himself.

"He has tied ties around his wrists but never around his neck. He would do it
to see if he could get out of it."

warmest smile and he really lit up the room..." - head teacher Nikki Mason
"He will be missed by everyone at the school and never forgotten. He had the


Charlie's head teacher Nikki Mason, 57, said: "Charlie was popular with staff and pupils and the news he has gone was devastating.

"He will be missed by everyone at the school and never forgotten. He had the
warmest smile and he really lit up the room.

"He embraced everything at school, worked hard and loved new challenges. He was
a boy who loved the outdoors and his friends."

Coroner Mrs Harding said: "I totally rule out suicide. There is no evidence he was suffering from depression or anything of that sort.

"The evidence shows that it was probable that it was the unintentional consequence of a deliberate action.

"The probable cause of death is that it was an accident. It is a very tragic case."

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