Tragic end to dad’s battle with anxiety
THE family of a devoted dad who took his own life after a battle with ‘crippling’ anxiety have urged others struggling with mental health problems to seek help.
Andrew Cowman, 38, was found hanged at his home in Heywood in July.
Andrew, known as Andy, was a doting father to his young daughter and a fitness fanatic who had worked as a buyer for an engineering firm for more than 20 years.
However, an inquest into his death heard he was found hanged after a bout of what his family described as ‘crippling anxiety.’
He had never been to see a doctor and so hadn’t been diagnosed with any mental health condition.
But a coroner found that ‘the balance of his mind was disturbed’ and that he did intentionally take his own life.
Speaking after the hearing, his sister Sarah Cowman said: “He was just a really lovable guy. He had a massive personality and he had so many friends. But the only thing that mattered to him was his family and his daughter.
“All he ever tried to do was be the best dad that he could be, and that’s what he did.
“This was just such a horrendous shock for all of us.”
And they directly appealed to anyone going through a similar ordeal: “Just talk to someone. Get help.
“No one will judge you and there is always someone who can help.”
The former St Cuthbert’s pupil and big Manchester United fan from Norden, began acting strangely and out of character around three weeks before his death, the inquest at the Phoenix Centre in Heywood was told.
They said he suddenly stopped seeing his daughter, going into work and became more and more reclusive, not wanting to leave the house or have visitors.
They also said Mr Cow- man, who had become a fitness fanatic after training for the Great Manchester Run in memory of his mother, had become ‘obsessed’ with it and lost a lot of weight around the time of his death, suggesting an element of ‘health anxiety.’
He resisted pleas to go and see his GP or get medical help telling them: “I’m doing it my way.”
But his sister Sarah and wife Annie Strudwick, told the inquest,that ‘never in a million years’ did they believe he would take his own life.
Mr Cowman was found hanging at his home after Miss Strudwick went round and raised the alarm.
The pair had separated but remained very close, living just a few streets away from her.
The hearing was told he would daily speak to daughter Willow but that on Thursday, June 29, this year, after texting Miss Strudwick saying he would ring her later on, he didn’t.
That was the last anyone heard from him. He failed to respond to numerous other messages the following day before Miss Strudwick went round and made the discovery on Saturday, July 1.
The coroner ruled he died sometime between the evening of Thursday, June 29, and the day he was found.
A post-mortem found he died of asphyxia from a ligature. Police ruled out any third party involvement or any suspicious circumstances. No note was found.
However Mr Cowman’s family said they now believed he had been planning to take his own life.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Assistant Corner Catherine McKenna said: “He was a devoted father and very actively involved in his daughter’s life.
“In the weeks before his death his behaviour changed quite drastically.
“It suggests to me the balance of his mind had been disturbed with increasing anxiety.
“I have heard very compelling evidence from the family that he was a very determined individual and would have intended the consequences of his actions.
“Therefore I do find that this was a suicide.
“It is abundantly clear to me how close you all were and I offer my sincerest condolences for your immeasurable loss.”
More than 1,000 people attended his funeral with a crowdfunding raising nearly £2,000 for his send off.