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Hunts News
18 February 2006
DEPRESSION led to a gardener hanging himself from a banister. John Bradshaw, 53, was found dead at his home in St Peters Road, Huntingdon, by his brother Brian.
Huntingdon Coroners’ Court heard Mr Bradshaw had a long history of depression. In a statement read to the court, Brian Bradshaw said John had lived on his own for eight years and before that had given up his job and cared for their mother.
He said John had been in hospital because of depression, and had signed up to Workbridge, which gets people back into work and provides training. He had also worked at the One Stop in Godmanchester.
Brian said he was expecting John to come round for Sunday lunch on July 24, 2005, but when he did not turn up he went to his house at about 1.40pm. He saw the curtains drawn and assumed John was in bed but when he let himself in he saw his brother hanging from the banister. He cut him down and called an ambulance.
Brian said he feared the anti-depressant drug his brother was prescribed, Venlafaxine, had caused him to kill himself.
He said: “John had never attempted to take his own life before. It was completely unexpected.”
Deputy coroner Colin Latimore said John had a long history of depression. He recorded that John committed suicide whilst suffering from a depressive illness.