Man with £35,000 debts leapt off centre car park
Your Trust’s monthly update
AYOUNG man who racked up £35,000 of debts killed himself by throwing himself from a Rochdale town centre car park.
Cameron Mcgowan, 26, fell from the Rochdale Exchange Shopping Centre onto Yorkshire Street on January 18, this year, sustaining multiple fatal injuries.
At the inquest into his death, his distraught father said: “What he did was totally unnecessary.
“He must have been out of his mind.”
Coroner Joanne Kearsley was told that Cameron, a warehouseman, of Oldham Road, Rochdale, had declared himself bankrupt, accumulated £35,000 of loans and had struggled with gambling.
In the bedroom of his home police found a note to himself saying: “Don’t gamble”.
He had started bodybuilding 10 years previously and had been taking steroids, his father, Clive, told the hearing.
Cameron had split up with his girlfriend shortly before the tragedy, and two days before he died he sent text messages to her telling her he had suicidal thoughts.
Although he had no prior record of needing or accessing mental health services, it prompted his ex-girlfriend to contact the police who in turn contacted North West Ambulance Service.
Paramedics visited his home late in the evening on Saturday, January 16.
Paramedic Joseph Barnes told the Rochdale inquest: “We asked him if he’d sent the text message and he said he had, but that he felt OK and just wanted to go back to bed.
“He said at the time he sent the message he was in a low mood. We recommended that with Cameron not having had any contact with mental health services we recommended that we take him to A&E so he could speak to a mental health practitioner, but he said he didn’t want to go.”
Mr Barnes said they were with him for about 20 minutes, and it was agreed that Cameron would see his GP.
Two days later a shopping centre worker was on duty and on CCTV monitors saw Cameron on the a floor of the car park, which is closed to the public.
“I saw a man walking round the car park and I made my way up,” he said in a written statement to the hearing.
“He was stood on his tiptoes peering over the edge.
“We get a lot of people doing that several times a day, just to look at the view.
“He pulled himself onto the wall and I said ‘are you all right mate’ and then he jumped from the edge.”
His father earlier told the inquest Cameron had started bodybuilding a decade previously and was taking steroids.
“His mother told him to stop, or he would be dead by 40,” he said.
““But his personality changed completely.
“He became much more withdrawn.
“He was taking other drugs too that he ordered from Germany.”
Mr Mcgowan said his son had been in a relationship for about two years but had developed a gambling problem.
He was struggling working 12-hour shifts and was in ‘a significant amount’ of debt, forcing him to declare himself bankrupt.
Detective Inspector David Crewe said there was evidence of recent selfharm on Cameron’s left arm. Paperwork detailing loans totalling £35,000 was also found in his bedroom.
Concluding that Cameron took his own life, Ms Kearsley told Mr Mcgowan: “I think you have been very candid and open about some of the difficulties Cameron was having.
“What happened on January 18 was something totally and utterly unexpected. He wasn’t someone who had a particular history of self-harming.
“Yes, he was a man who had a number of problems - the break up of a relationship, and some suggestion he was using medication which was not prescribed and steroids.”
She said that on the morning of January 18 Cameron was ‘having thoughts about committing suicide and that is what he has done’.
OUR boroughwide cultural trust, Your Trust is continuing to fulfil its commitment to connect us with our creative sides through such as exhibitions, shows, events, galleries, museums, and workshops.
This is the first of what is planned to become a monthly what’s on at Your Trust.
Touchstones
My Old Man – Friday, November 19 – 7pm: This is a Pay What You Can show, blending digital and live performance telling the story of an old, blind Polish soldier who has to adapt to a new challenge after his granddaughter finally moves out of his house.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ whats-on/events/ my-old-man/
Rochdale in Rainbows – Touchstones are hosting several events to celebrate Rochdale in Rainbows, including a screening of HIV + Me – filmed in Greater Manchester and telling the stories of three extraordinary people fighting to end HIV stigma and shame, and a Knit Your Own Progress Flag workshop hosted by local group Knitty Gritty.
There will also be a small exhibition, details tbc.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ whats-on/events/ hivme-screening/
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ whats-on/events/ knit-a-progress-flag-withknitty-gritty/
Santa Grotto – this ever-popular Christmas event is back, offering festive storytelling, crafts and a meet and greet with Santa.
Multiple sessions take place Saturday 11 and Sunday 12, and Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 December.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ whats-on/events/ santas-grotto/
Xmas Makers’ Market – Over the weekend of the 11 and 12 December, Touchstones will host its first ever makers’ market, with local artists and creatives selling unique Christmas gifts.
Football Art Prize – The deadline for entries to the Football Art Prize is coming up on November 19.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ exhibitions/the-footballart-prize/
Current Exhibitions:
Until January 9, 2022 in Gallery One George Meyrick: Aligned Raised Lowered Offset Paired
Until January 3, 2022 in Gallery Two What’s Changed?
Until February 13, 2022 in Gallery Three Jasleen Kaur: Gut Feelings Meri Jaan and in Gallery Four - Helen Cammock: Concrete Feathers and Porcelain Tacks
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ exhibitions/
Middleton Arena
The Snow Queen – Thursday, November 18 – Ballet Theatre UK’S magical production of the classic ballet.
Showaddywaddy – Saturday, November 20 – Rock n roll legends return to Middleton.
Treasure Island – from Tuesday, November 30 – The return of Middleton
Arena’s popular panto after two years away.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ venues/middleton-arena/
Heywood Sports Village
As already reported in this column, this year’s Heywood panto, Cinderella, is staying local with a move to Heywood Sports Village.
Cinderella runs
Saturday 18 – Tuesday, December 28.
Visit: www. yourtrustrochdale.co.uk/ whats-on/events/ cinderella-heywoodschristmas-panto-2021/