A MUM told an inquest she “fell to the floor” after discovering her teen son had been found hanged in a field just days before a first date.
Jai Palermo, 13, had disappeared after his grandmother dropped him home from school.
Nia Owens described the moment she discovered her son was dead[/caption]
He was tragically discovered in a field near his home in Hook, Pembrokeshire, almost five hours later.
An inquest heard how Jai’s cause of death was given as “pressure on the neck” with no suggestion of third-party involvement.
His mum Nia Owen told of her agony after police showed up at her door to tell her Jai was dead.
She said: “Two officers came in and I remember thinking ‘he’s not with them, maybe he’s in the car.
“The lady said they had found him and I said ‘OK’. She then said that they had found him and that he was dead. I fell to the floor.
“I asked what happened and she said that he had hung himself
“I was in complete shock. He was so close.
“He was just a child. He was happy, he was loved, he was given everything.”
The court was told “happy-go-lucky and adventurous” Jai was in the Scouts and a local kayaking club.
He was due to go on a first date with his girlfriend and had planned to see his dad before he was found dead on January 23, 2020.
You're Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
Nia said her son had ADHD and dyspraxia and suffered with sleeping difficulties from the age of six.
The mum also told the inquest she was concerned about the side-effects of Jai’s ADHD medication.
The youngster would become “quiet and withdrawn” when taking it.
Nia added: “Maybe he would still be alive if I had taken him off it.”
The mum, who would often lower his dose on a weekend, also said Jai had been quieter before his death but she believed this was a “teenage thing”.
The inquest at Haverfordwest Coroner’s Court continues.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Jai had been due to go on a first date the weekend after his death[/caption]
