A "WONDERFUL" teenager took his own life by plunging from a stairwell at his school after a heartbreaking phonecall to a pal.
George Brankov had been chatting to his friend on the phone moments before the tragedy at UTC Media City College in Salford.
George told his pal he was "concerned about a group of friends" as he walked up the stairs in June last year, an inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard.
Police coroner's officer Julieann Hyde told the court: "He felt they were pulling away from him. He seemed to take it very personally."
She said the 15-year-old appeared "isolated" and told his friend the "only people who claim to love me are my mum, dad, girlfriend and you".
Ms Hyde added: "He told his friend he was going to do something but his friend thought he wasn't being serious."
The inquest heard his friend tried to reassure George on the phone but George then put his mobile on the floor and jumped from the banister.
'ISOLATED'
A coroner recorded that George died of suicide.
Teachers had said that earlier in the day George seemed distracted and was using his mobile phone in the classroom.
He did not turn up for his final lesson of the day and an email was sent to members of staff about his absence.
The inquest also heard evidence from a receptionist at the college who said she was sat at her desk when she heard an "almighty crash".
She called for an ambulance, while the students were called out of class and away from the scene.
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
George was rushed to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in a critical condition but he later died on June 3 last year.
His mum Tania Brankov, an office manager, told the court she got a phone call from George's girlfriend to say he had been round in the morning to drop off a box of chocolates and to walk her to her school.
Mrs Brankov said George was "wonderful, happy, considerate and smart".
She added: "A couple of weeks before it happened, he mentioned to his dad that he didn't feel himself."
The inquest heard he had lost his appetite, didn't sleep very well and had "lost interest" in his sports hobbies.
'WONDERFUL, HAPPY, CONSIDERATE'
He told mental health practitioners that he was "lacking motivation" and was tired.
And in May last year, before a GP, he spoke to his parents about having thoughts of suicide and that he was stockpiling painkiller.
The day before his death on Sunday, June 2, the family went out for a meal.
Mrs Brankov told the court her son hadn't "noticeably deteriorated".
He said he didn't fancy doing any revision for his exams so his mum suggested they "go home and chill".
Coroner Stephen Teasdale said: "He was always a polite, keen and considerate young man. He was athletic, he loved skiing and tennis", he said.
"He was sociable and loved his friends but in a way this became a 'weakness' as it was his 'perception that he was losing his social circle'.
Addressing George's mother, he said: "He was a charming young man, and you received a phone call no parent should have to receive.
"It was a loss to you, but also to the rest of us."
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