Waterlooville dad who killed himself had 'a lot whirling around in his head'

A FATHER who was described as ‘confident and healthy’ saw his life fall apart in front of his eyes and saw no way out.
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An inquest has been heard into the death of 26-year-old Michael Ellis, who was pronounced dead on September 9 after being found dead in woods near Havant and South Downs College.

Coroner Samantha Marsh ruled a death by hanging, recording the incident as a suicide.

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The Coroner's Court in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth 
Picture: Malcolm Wells (180405-3355)The Coroner's Court in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth 
Picture: Malcolm Wells (180405-3355)
The Coroner's Court in Guildhall Square, Portsmouth Picture: Malcolm Wells (180405-3355)
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The court was told of how Mr Ellis had been an ‘over-confident’ man with a laddish streak, but had fallen into debt, was living between two houses and struggled with both a relationship breakdown and the death of his grandfather.

It is believed by the coroner that the relationship breakdown, coupled with the potential to no longer see his three-year-old daughter, tipped him over the edge.

Giving evidence, ex-girlfriend Georgette Kramer said: ‘I don’t think he wanted people to know how he was feeling.

‘Towards the end he was sad all the time.’

The pair had a weekend away in Portsmouth just before he died.

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Miss Kramer and a friend dropped Mr Ellis off at Havant Bus Station on September 8, then he disappeared.

Mr Ellis’ sister, Zoe Ellis, told the court that he sent her a text with a message for his daughter, before putting a post on Facebook.

‘I knew something was wrong when he stopped arguing with me,’ she said.

‘After the break-up he was really down.’

Mother Dawn Ellis added: ‘When he was low, he would keep it to himself.

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‘Even as a little boy he wouldn’t talk to me about things like that.’

Examining Mr Ellis’ body, toxicologists found prescription anti-depressants, cannabis and cocaine in his system.

Coroner Samantha Marsh said the cocaine may have heightened his emotions, making him feel particularly down.

She said: ‘There was an awful lot whirling around in his head.

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‘It appears to have built up accumulatively, but one thing that’s clear is that he was embarrassed about his mental health.

‘Whether that’s due to male bravado or not, everyone noticed a big change in him but young men just don’t talk about how they’re feeling.’

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