Inquest hears of popular footballer’s final moments
TEXT MESSAGE REVEALED ‘HE WAS NOT IN A GOOD PLACE’
A POPULAR footballer who was described by team mates as a ‘true legend’ had been unwell just before his death, an inquest heard.
Robert Livermore, 40, was found dead on January 17 this year by his daughter at their Wallsend home when she returned from school.
The inquest, held at North Tyneside Coroner’s Court, heard Mr Livermore, 40, had been unwell with the flu and hadn’t been to work.
The court heard his wife, Karen, had left their home that morning with their daughter and he was still at home.
Coroner Eric Armstrong said: “Throughout the day, Karen received various text messages from Rob about plans for Sunday evening and plans for dinner.
“At about one or two o’clock he sent a message saying he was not in a good place.”
At around 2pm, his daughter text to ask if he could pick her up for school, but he replied saying he wasn’t feeling well and after not hearing from her dad again she made her own way home.”
Mr Armstrong said Mr Livermore’s daughter returned home at around 3.15pm and found her dad.
Emergency services were called to the house shortly after, the coroner added.
Following his death, a post-mortem examination was carried out that said the death was caused by pressure to the neck.
Mr Livermore, who worked as a civil servant for more than 20 years, was generally a fit man, the court heard.
“He was quite active, going to the gym, doing triathlons, had no medical conditions, he was a smoker in the past before moving to e-cigarettes and last couple of years nothing at all,” Mr Armstrong said.
A toxicology report showed there was alcohol, codeine and paracetamol in his system.
He had been taking paracetamol due to back pain and had been taking codeine for some time, it was said.
The mixture of alcohol and codeine can cause confusion, Mr Armstrong said, and he believed the two were linked.
Mr Armstrong concluded Mr Livermore’s death was due to alcohol and codeine consumption and he took his own life by hanging.
After his death, tribute flooded in for the “footballing legend” who played at clubs including Whitley Bay , North Shields and Percy Main.
Mr Livermore was described as a “fan favourite” and “true legend”.
An online fundraising page attracted more than £5,800 in donations.