Personal trainer, 28, who was found hanged at home had asked his family for permission to take his own life days earlier, inquest hears

A personal trainer asked his family for permission to end his life in the days leading up to his death, an inquest has heard.

Lewis Horrocks, 28, was found hanged at his home in Farnworth, Bolton earlier this year after a prolonged six-year battle with poor mental health.

The 28-year-old was discovered by his distraught father at his flat on Reed Close on April 2, 2021.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Lewis had told family and friends of his intention to end his own life. 

He had previously been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder among other mental health issues, Bolton Coroner's Court heard.

Giving evidence in court, his family explained how he had 'asked for permission' to end his life a week before his death.

Lewis Horrocks, 28, was found hanged at his home in Farnworth, Bolton earlier this year after a prolonged six-year battle with poor mental health

Just days before his body was found, on March 30, Lewis' girlfriend, Remi Hilton, found him crying outside her apartment with four bottles of wine.

He had a cut on his knee, a slit to his eyebrow and injuries to his hand but could not remember how he sustained them.

At hospital, doctors found him to be under the influence of alcohol and drugs.

Lewis returned to his family home on Woodlands Park View following his release from hospital, where he stayed for a night.

On April 1, Lewis left the house in the early evening to meet a friend, with the pair listening to music before eventually getting into a 'scuffle'. 

Lewis returned to the family home in the early hours of April 2, appearing to be under the influence.

He argued with his mother, Lisa Kirby, before leaving and returning to his own flat.

The inquest heard how when at home, Lewis sent several images and text messages, implying that he intended to take his own life, to girlfriend Remi Hilton just before 3am.

He had also texted her: 'I'm trying to fix myself. I will not see you until I am totally fixed.

'You made me realise what life is again. Please don't give up on me.' 

Lewis had also asked for 'permission' to take his own life seven days before he died, his family revealed at Bolton Coroner's Court

Concern mounted when Lewis' sister Darcy visited his flat later that morning and no one answered the door.

She told the court she had a 'really bad gut feeling' that something was wrong.

Darcy called her father who rushed to Lewis' flat, and had to borrow a ladder to climb up into an open first-floor window. 

To his horror, he then discovered Lewis' body.

Lewis had also asked for 'permission' to take his own life seven days before he died, his family revealed in court. 

His stepfather, Lee Kirby, told the court that his stepson would often take cocaine and Diazepam to 'numb the pain.'

'Lewis had trust issues from a previous relationship when he was cheated on, which made him quite depressed,' Mr Kirby said.

'He would get to a certain stage in a relationship, then problems would arise.'  

Lee believed that Lewis' expressions of wanting to take his own life on numerous previous occasions had been 'a cry for help'.  

They also said he took drugs as a way to 'blank out the thoughts'. 

A toxicology report found he had cocaine and alcohol in his blood at the time of his death.

The alcohol level was around one-a-half times the legal drink driving limit. 

Area coroner Alan Walsh ruled his death as suicide.

Speaking to Lewis' family, he said: 'He was a young man who appeared to have mental health problems from 2015 onwards.

'He was someone who had problems when alone. He used alcohol and cocaine as a release from his problems.