A heartbroken dad took his own life just four weeks after finding his son hanged in his bedroom, an inquest has heard.
Martin Leonard told his wife his son Macauley’s face was haunting him before his death.
The 48-year-old desperately tried to resuscitate Macauley, 21, after discovering him on March 7 this year.
Tragically, Hull Live reports, Martin took his own life in the same spot less than a month later.
The double inquest into their deaths heard Macauley had become more reserved after deciding he needed a break from his relationship with his longtime girlfriend.
Macauley’s mother said she had even bought herbal remedy anti-depressant St John’s Wort and believed "it had been working".
"Macauley was our world, he was our only boy," Lisa said in an emotional statement read out at the inquest on Monday morning.
Dad-of-one Martin had tried to resuscitate his only son after finding him in his bedroom on March 7 this year.
Martin said he had knocked on his son’s door at around 9pm but got no answer and he assumed he was in the room with his girlfriend. He knocked again 10 minutes later after he saw his bedroom light was on and when he entered he found Macauley.
The inquest was told Macauley had recently "ended things" with his long-term partner in January this year before his death. The pair had met outside his home to hand over a spare key to her car just three hours before Macauley took his own life.
She said in a statement read out to the court: "We ended on good terms – we hugged hard before he went back in the house.
"He said he wasn’t having a good day. I said was that with work, and he said, ‘no’ in himself.
"But if I had believed he would have gone on to do what he did, then I wouldn’t have let him be alone and would have stayed with him."
Plumbing supervisor Macauley had "planned" his suicide but had not left a note, the inquest was told.
Humberside Police officer Jack Taylor said he was called to the family’s Shinewater Park home at 9.30pm. Giving live evidence at the hearing, PC Taylor said: "There was no evidence of foul play, or third party involvement."
Pathologist expert Dr Ian Richmond confirmed no alcohol or drugs were found in Macauley’s system and stated the young man had died as a result of "hanging".
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His mum, who was supported by her sister and her mum and dad at the inquest, told the court via her statement the family had taken the death of Macauley hard.
She said: "Martin told me he found it difficult to get up to go work because he had worked all his life to provide for Macauley – and didn’t see much point in carrying on.
"We didn’t talk about Macauley’s death much but went for walks together.
"He said he couldn’t get the image of Macauley out of his head."
Martin had taken his own life in Macauley’s room on April 9 this year, the inquest heard.
Lisa had awoken at 4am to find her husband was not laid next to her and went downstairs to find the door to Macauley’s room closed.
She tried the door and when she could not get in she called 999. A paramedic helped break down the door and attempted to save Martin but was unsucessful.
Hull Senior Coroner Professor Paul Marks returned a conclusion of suicide in both cases.
He said: "It is clear to me that the tragic death of Macauley had a profound effect on Martin and found this too hard to bring himself to come to terms with.
"I have no doubt that he [Martin] intended to take his own life."
Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at [email protected]
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