‘It was horrific seeing mum like that — she was my best friend’

Steven Wrycza’s mum Linda May Carroll died after a blood clot in her leg travelled into her lungs.

Tragically, she lay dead at home for a week because she had been scheduled to go to Blackpool on holiday the day that she died.

Growing concerned after not being able to contact her, Steven called the police — who recovered the 67-year-old’s body.

The 24-year-old today said that identifying his mum plunged him into a deep depression and that he was “suicidal”.

He said: “It was horrible — my mum was my best friend.

“She was supposed to be going to Blackpool on holiday and every time I tried to contact mum, her phone was off.

“I thought that she must have forgotten her charger but after a while she hadn’t been in contact so I phoned the police.

“The police phoned me to tell me what happened. I wasn’t expecting it at all. It was the biggest shock of my life.

“My mum and I had a really special bond. When I found out what had happened I couldn’t stop crying.

“I just couldn’t believe it. It was a horrible shock.

“The next day I had to go to identify the body.

“I asked if her body had decomposed and was told that she wasn’t too bad. She just didn’t look like my mum anymore.

A DUNDEE man has told how the sight of his dead mother almost lead him to suicide.

“It was so horrific to see her like that. I still get flashbacks and visions of her being like that.

“When I think about her it is that picture that comes to mind.

“She has left a massive hole in my life. I still can’t believe she’s gone.

“I still keep saying to myself ‘oh I’ll go and phone mum’ then I remember she isn’t here any more.”

Steven, who has worked as a city aid worker, said that in the weeks following his mum’s death he fell into a deep depression.

He said: “I really wasn’t looking after myself. I wasn’t eating or drinking.

“Having to arrange your mum’s funeral at 24 is a horrible experience, having to deal with everything.

“It all just built up and I started having suicidal thoughts.

“My mind was all over the place. I just started walking around the city with my head swimming.”

One night Steven, who lives in Stobswell, dropped off his two pet dogs at a neighbour’s house and began to wander the city’s streets for the next 10 hours.

His neighbour became concerned for his welfare and contacted the police to report him missing and a search got under way.

A “freezing” Steven turned up when he visited his sister for a hot drink at 7.30am. He was taken to Bell Street by police before being transported to Carseview, where he was a patient for five days.

Steven said that he was concerned about the level of support for people in his situation.

He added: “I am still feeling suicidal but I do feel better because of my friends and family.”

Steven had a ‘special bond’ with his mum. Steven with Linda.

Linda pictured in her younger days.