Man took own life after father’s diagnosis (From Oxford Mail)

Man took own life after father’s diagnosis

7:00pm Friday 9th November 2012 in News

AN ENGINEER hanged himself after learning his father had been diagnosed with cancer, an inquest heard.

Benjamin Horsman, 34, was found hanging in his Cowley Road home garage by flatmates in April last year.

A coroner heard Mr Horsman, known as “Benji” by friends and family, had seemed irritable on the morning of his death.

In a statement his flatmate Thomas Pitman described how he had seemed “peed off” on April 5, after finding out his father had been diagnosed with cancer.

He said: “He moved here four years ago, after travelling to India as part of his work. We got on well and Benji had been a friend ever since he moved in.”

It was not until that evening that Mr Pitman found Mr Horsman and tried to help resuscitate his flatmate.

The inquest heard Mr Horsman had no recent history of mental illness, although he had been treated for anxiety and given counselling in 2004.

Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said: “I am going to record a verdict that Benjamin took his own life.”