Former rugby player texted ‘I can’t cope’ before suicide

AFORMER rugby player who was found dead in a field on the outskirts of Cardiff had searched online for “my battle with mental illness” just days before he died, an inquest heard.

Jeffrey Sutton, 27, from Beddau, was found dead on the morning of May 26.

An inquest into his death was resumed at Cardiff Coroner’s Court yesterday.

PC Alex Lloyd, based at Fairwater, who put together the file of evidence, said Mr Sutton had parked his car in cul-desac Parc-y-Felin, off Tynant Road in Creigiau, at around midnight the night before he was found dead.

Resident Frances Atherton saw him lock the vehicle before walking away before then calling the police to report the vehicle had been parked in an awkward position.

Mr Sutton’s body was discovered the following morning, May 26, at around 6.40am by a dog-walker, who called the emergency services.

PC Lloyd said: “I attended with another colleague. Paramedics were already on the scene. Paramedics had tried working on him but had said he was deceased.”

The crime scene investigator was called to document the scene, while the force medical examiner attended to establish whether there were any suspicious circumstances.

PC Lloyd said there had been no suggestion of thirdparty involvement in Mr Sutton’s death.

Two mobile phones were examined by police after the death of Mr Sutton, who had at one point aspired to become a professional rugby player.

The inquest heard that on May 21, he had made an online internet search for “my battle with mental illness”.

On May 25 he sent several texts including the messages “I’m done”, “I can’t cope” and “wish I could change my mistakes but I can’t”.

PC Lloyd added: “I think that a male has gone into the field and taken his own life.”

The inquest heard that Mr Sutton, who had been diagnosed with ADHD, had “depressive episodes” in November 2014 and June 2015, before he overdosed in August 2016, receiving treatment at Royal Glamorgan Hospital.

A toxicology report confirmed Mr Sutton had alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of his death. But the inquest was told it was not possible to determine precisely when they were consumed or the effect they would have had.

Philip Spinney, area coroner for South Wales Central, said the cause of death was pressure on the neck, consistent with hanging, and recorded a conclusion of suicide. He said: “I’m sure it was Jeffrey’s intention to take his own life.”

The coroner said that since turning 25 Jeffrey’s life had become “more chaotic”.

“He began drinking more and taking recreational drugs.

“The night before he passed away Jeffrey received a visit from his mother, who described him as being calm and quiet, [and] who could tell he was upset about something but he didn’t want to talk about it. There were a number of messages sent where he was saying goodbye to people and saying he couldn’t cope any longer.”

On May 17 Mr Sutton had told his mother he was going to the GP to get anti-depressants. He was last seen by family on Thursday, May 25, when his mum visited him. They were informed on May 26 that their son had died.

Beddau RFC said: “Our village and club has lost another fine young man . ... Jeff played all his mini and junior and youth rugby for our great club and will be deeply missed.”