Inquest told tennis coach took own life
A TALENTED tennis coach and father took an overdose of medication after his life tragically spiralled out of control.
Dean De Villiers was discovered lying in the bathroom of his family home after struggling with depression and alcohol dependency.
He was found by his wife Michelle De Villiers at the Heol-y-Onen property in Llanharry on August 31 this year.
An inquest into his death held at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court heard how the 56-year-old had recently been separated from his wife after being arrested for a drink-driving offence on August 23.
Assistant Coroner Rachel Knight read out a statement from Michelle De Villiers.
She told the court her husband had been born in Zambia and studied at the University of South Florida, Tampa, where he had a tennis scholarship.
The pair met while coaching at a tennis club in Guernsey before they settled in Llanharry after Mr De Villiers got a permanent position as a head coach at Radyr Tennis Club in 2001.
In 2002 the couple had a daughter named Ceri. Mrs De Villiers said in 2011 they were told Radyr Tennis Club were not going to renew his contract as head coach. No explanation was given why, according to her.
On August 23, Mr De Villiers was arrested outside the family home for a suspected drink-driving offence.
A week before his death, his wife said she, and her daughter, began staying with a friend, and Mr De Villiers stayed at the property.
She said she visited the house on a few occasions.
Then on August 27, Mrs De Villiers said her husband was hospitalised after she returned home to find him acting strangely and threatening to take an overdose of medication.
He was discharged the following day and returned to the family home.
“On Friday August 31 I returned at 5pm having spent all afternoon in Pontypridd,” Mrs De Villiers said.
“I let myself into the house and I had a feeling something was wrong.”
Mrs De Villiers said her husband had not been active on WhatsApp for some time. She said she discovered her husband with his feet poking out of the bathroom.
“I shouted out the door for help and rang 999 from my mobile,” she said.
PC Ian Sullivan attended the address at about 1.50pm on August 27 following reports that Mr De Villiers was threatening to take his own life.
In a statement read out to Tuesday’s hearing, PC Sullivan said: “Michelle explained that they were going through a separation due to his alcohol use.”
PC Sullivan said that Mr De Villiers appeared “dishevelled”.
“He explained that he had lost his job as a tennis coach and his wife,” PC Sullivan added. He said he had nothing to live for. It was clear that he was very distressed and at times angry.”
After paramedics arrived at the scene, he was taken to Royal Glamorgan Hospital. The deceased’s GP Dr Andrew DuffinJones gave oral evidence at the inquest hearing. Dr Duffin-Jones told the court Mr De Villiers suffered with hypertension and had a long history of anxiety, depression and insomnia.
Coroner Rachel Knight accepted the cause of death given at post-mortem as clomipramine toxicity.
“I am going to reach a conclusion of suicide,” the coroner said. “I find it more likely than not that he intended to take his own life. The act was deliberate, he initiated it and there is sufficient evidence that he intended to end his life.”