My bright son was bullied before he killed himself, says Invictus Games ex-soldier

THE 14-year-old son of a former Army corporal who competed in last year’s Invictus Games killed himself after being bullied on a school ski trip for being too clever, an inquest has heard.

Sam Abel jumped from the roof of a supermarket on Jan 8 and was pronounced dead in hospital. Police said there had been a minor argument at home on the morning of his death.

Worcestershire coroners’ court was told the pupil at Tudor Grange Academy in Solihull had been relentlessly bullied before his death.

The coroner was told schoolmates taunted him on a school skiing trip and punctured the tyres on his bicycle. His father, Mark Abel, 50, who served in the Army for 14 years, lost his sight five years ago after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Mr Abel, who swam in the Invictus Games last year, said: “Sometimes other pupils are jealous and this can breed bullying. We’ll never be entirely sure because he only really spoke to his friends about it, but I know pranks were pulled on him that were particularly cruel. I just hope these bullies can live with the regret.”

Sam’s mother, Anita, 47, said after the hearing: “Our beautiful boy has gone. Our lives are never going to be the same again.”

Sam Roach, the principal at Tudor Grange Academy School, described the pupil as “sweet and bright”, excelling in a variety of subjects.

She said that the school was working towards a culture of openness and defended how it dealt with bullying. Mrs Roach said: “We were unaware of what was going on. We have a zero tolerance of bullying, once we are aware of issues.”

Geraint Williams, the coroner, recorded a conclusion of suicide and offered his condolences to the family.