Student gamer who hanged himself was ‘isolated and depressed’ by life split from reality
A COMPUTER gamer who hanged himself could have become disconnected and depressed by his life, an inquest has heard.
Matthew Beaumont, a student at Hull University, was found dead in his student accommodation on Nov 29 by a flatmate. The 21-year-old who spent hours daily playing Assassin’s Creed and FIFA, killed himself, a coroner ruled.
His parents, who described him as an “absolute joy” to bring up, said Matthew was a “big gamer” and his death came as a shock. “We had absolutely no idea that he was anywhere near that state of mind,” said Stephen Beaumont, his father. Mr Beaumont said he was aware that “gaming causes isolation and disconnection from reality” and that it was “a real problem”.
Hull Coroner’s Court heard Matthew spoke to Linda, his mother, two days before his death. She said he sounded “tired and frustrated” on the telephone. “There was nothing about the phone call that made me think he was desperate. Frustrated, yes, But not desperate.”
Post-mortem tests showed a small amount of cannabis in his blood. Dr Lorenzo Karsai, a pathologist, said cannabis could have impaired his “cognitive functions”. The film studies and creative writing student, seemed “disconnected” in the days before he died, a flatmate said. Rosemary Baxter, area coroner, said Matthew died “by his own hand” but was unable to say if he had intended to take his own life.