ASPIRING DOCTOR FOUND DEAD AFTER BEING EXCLUDED FROM UNIVERSITY OVER SOCIAL MEDIA POST
AN aspiring doctor took his own life after he was excluded from his university due to his friends sharing a private message on social media.
Edward Senior, known as Ted, was found hanged in a woodland area in the grounds of their home in Raglan, Monmouthshire, on February 10. He was found by his father.
The 22-year-old, who was a keen rugby and football player, was studying a postgraduate degree at Swansea University at the time of his death, but following the publication of a private message on social media, he was excluded from most of his lectures and a charity event he had been organising.
An inquest at Newport Coroner’s Court heard the exclusion had a “profound effect” on the medical student who felt his future as a doctor had been put in jeopardy.
In a statement from Edward’s mother Diana Senior, which was read out to the inquest, she said her son was head boy at Monmouth Comprehensive School and had achieved 10 GCSEs and four A-levels.
She said he went on to study physiology at Bristol University and achieved a 2:1 in the subject.
After taking a gap year where he went travelling, spending time working at an orphanage in Uganda and working in healthcare, he began his postgraduate degree at Swansea University in September 2017 but his studies were disrupted following the incident in February 2018.
Mrs Senior said: “A complaint was made against Ted to the medical department of Swansea University in relation to a post on social media which resulted in him being excluded from the majority of his lecturers and a charity event he had been organising. This had a profound impact on his wellbeing and he returned to the family home.”
The court heard Mr Senior left the family home suddenly at 11.30am on February 10 having appeared “preoccupied” to his parents.
Mrs Senior said she and her husband Paul went to look for him after becoming concerned but shortly later they found his body.
A statement from PC Chris Butt described attending the scene after being notified by a colleague.
The officer said a note had been found in Mr Senior’s bedroom addressed to his family. He added he was satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death. A post-mortem examination concluded the cause of death was asphyxia.
Gwent coroner Wendy James said: “This highlights the risk of posting on social media sites. Edward had made a post in a private forum and that post was shared by his friends with the consequence that Ted was excluded from the majority of his lectures and a charity event.
“I have read the note in Ted’s bedroom and the contents of that note indicate how worried and isolated he was feeling.
The action to exclude Ted had a profound effect upon him and despite obviously having the support of a loving family this was not enough to get him through a stressful period.
“Having suffered this exclusion Edward said he did not know what was in store for him. He became overwhelmed by the situation and he found himself feeling his future as a doctor was in jeopardy.”
Ms James said she was satisfied Mr Senior had intended to take his own life and recorded a conclusion of suicide.
■ The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or at jo@samaritans.org