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Inquest into death of teenger Charlie-Joe Coggins

A teenage boy described as the "perfect son" hanged himself after struggling to come to terms with a break up, an inquest has heard.

Charlie-Joe Coggins was discovered by his sister and a friend at the foot of the stairs in his Greenhithe home.

At a hearing at Maidstone’s Archbishop’s Palace coroner for north west Kent Roger Hatch was told an examination of the 17-year-old’s phone found the final text he sent was to his ex girlfriend.

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It read: “Now all I do is stare at walls, what’s the point of being here?”

DS Neil Martin led the investigation into Charlie-Joe’s death.

He said officers were called to the address in Carlton Avenue by paramedics early on the afternoon of Tuesday, May 1.

Third party involvement was soon ruled out.

Described by his parents as “the kind of person who always helped friends out” with lots of things to look forward to, aspiring accountant Charlie-Joe had not demonstrated any signs of being down before the incident.

Several months previously he had broken up with his girlfriend but had not seemed too upset by the situation and, his family believed, he had moved on.

"He was the kind of person who always helped friends out" - Charlie-Joe's parents

The Saturday before he took his own life Charlie-Joe had gone to a party.

He was too tired to go to another party the following day.

On the Tuesday morning his sister, Molly-May, saw him in his bedroom.

The door was open and he was in bed on his phone. She said he looked “rough”.

Just after 11am she called Charlie-Joe who said he was planning to take the dogs out.

His friend and Molly-May tried to contact him again repeatedly but couldn’t get through.

Just before 12.30pm the pair went to see if Charlie-Joe was alright, entering the house to find him on the stairs.

Despite their best efforts they were unable to save him. Mr Hatch recorded a verdict of suicide.

  • If you would like confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.
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