Builder's labourer Robert Duncalf was staying with friends in Barnton when tragedy struck in March.

His best friend Jason Ruddy made the grim discovery after making a cup of tea.

They had been at a neighbour's house watching the violent Jean-Claude Van Damme movie Bloodsports, before going to Robert's digs on Meadow Drive.

On Friday, an inquest at Crewe heard that Robert had been talking to his friend Jason before the incident.

"Robert said 'let's have a toy fight'," explained Jason in a written statement.

"So we were wrestling on the floor, pretending to hit each other.

"We started talking about things and with no warning Robert said 'I'm going to hang myself tonight'. He said he was sick of life and had nothing to live for.

"I thought he looked quite sad but I didn't really believe what he was saying. He changed the subject and said 'go and make me a brew' - he said he was going to the toilet."

But when Jason came back, he found his friend hanging from the staircase.

"I panicked and ran out of the house to Robert's gran and grandad's," added Jason.

"I felt sick and couldn't stop crying at the thought of him hanging there."

Robert died at Whiston Hospital three days later.

Jason told the inquest that he spent most of his time with Robert, an ex pupil of both Rudheath and Hartford High Schools, playing on computers, swimming and meeting other friends.

"He'd not told me anything to make me think he was unhappy. I don't think he had any problems," he explained.

And Robert's mum Denise Hewitt said: "He's always been the type of person that if he had a problem, he would keep it stewing inside. But on the whole he was a happy young man with lots of friends in Barnton."

PC Glynn Leach was the first on the scene after the alarm was raised. He said he found a letter from Robert's girlfriend apologising for an argument three or four days earlier. But he said he didn't think it was a major issue.

Coroner John Hibbert, who recorded an open verdict, said he didn't know whether Robert had intended to take his life or not.

"It might have been a cry for help and he'd hoped to be discovered before it was too late," he said.

"Unfortunately, although every effort was made to resuscitate him, it just didn't come about."

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