‘Heartbroken’ man took his life after death of girlfriend
A GRIEVING boyfriend killed himself under the wheels of a train after he was left heartbroken by the death of his girlfriend.
Warehouse worker Adam Howarth, 29, had been due to go on a date with 27-year old Chloe Spencer but she cancelled.
She was found hanged at her home the following morning and it is believed she sent a 3am text to Adam – just two hours before her body was discovered.
Just six days later Adam ventured onto railway tracks near his home in Wigan and stepped into the path of a locomotive.
Police believe he tried to jump out of the way at the last minute but was struck by the train and died from multiple injuries.
Details of the double tragedy in June this year emerged at Bolton coroner’s court where separate inquests into the couple’s deaths were held on the same day.
The pair had begun dating in July last year but their 11-month relationship was said to have had its ‘’ups and downs’.’
On the day before her death motherof-one Chloe, a mental health nursing assistant, had arranged to go out with a friend David McCormick.
Adam’s mother Ann Lloyd told the hearing: “Adam and Chloe were due to go on a date on June 21 but she cancelled that night.
“The following day Adam unexpectedly received a call from a friend saying she had taken her own life and as consequence of this, Adam was heartbroken.
“Essentially he struggled over that period and he attended a mental health assessment on June 27.
“During that assessment he was asked if he wanted to harm or kill himself and he said no, and said if he would, he would wait until after the funeral. He had planned on carrying his partner’s coffin and there was some belief he was going to have a follow up the next day from the mental health team.”
Chloe’s mother Deborah Spencer, also from Wigan said her daughter had suffered with mental health problems since being the victim of a sexual assault several years previously. She had also been fighting for custody of her child.
Tests showed Chloe had 176 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of a blood. The alcohol limit in blood for driving is 80mg. There were also traces of cocaine in her system.
Recording a narrative conclusion on Chloe’s death and a suicide verdict on Adam, coroner Rachel Syed said: “Quite understandably Adam was devastated by this news and struggled to come to terms with her death.”