A family have paid a loving tribute to their son and brother who was the "life and soul of the party". The family of Rhys Baldwin described him as the "life and soul of the party" and urged other men who are struggling with mental health issues to seek help and called for increased awareness of signs of mental ill health.
Mr Baldwin, from Long Eaton, had struggled with mental health issues after sustaining severe facial and head injuries when he was a passenger in a car that was involved in a serious road traffic collision in February 2010, when he was 18, reports Derbyshire Live. His family said at an inquest, held on Tuesday, August 9, 2022, that they "lost him 12 years ago" and that he had post-traumatic stress disorder after the crash, which they described as "horrific".
The 30-year-old's family said in the hearing that despite the severity of the crash, the 30-year-old was "a funny lad", "happy-go-lucky", and "loved all his family". They added that he was someone who "lit up the room". In a moving statement following proceedings, they also said he had an "infectious" laugh and a "heart of gold", with hundreds attending his funeral after his death on January 4, 2022.
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They said: "The road traffic accident Rhys had in 2010 left him with severe facial and head injuries which had a massive impact on his mental health. Despite the accident and all the hurdles over the last 12 years, Rhys was a loving son, brother and uncle.
"He had a heart of gold and was loved and adored by everyone. He was so caring and would do anything for anyone. He loved helping people, especially his many friends.
"To his friends, he was a 'brother' and a 'legend'. He was funny, he was always the life and soul of the party and the kind of person who lit up the room when he arrived.
"His smile and infectious laugh would light up the darkest of rooms. People only had to meet him once to fall in love with him.
"He had over 300 people at his funeral which showed just how loved he was. At his funeral, we asked for donations which were donated to the Long Eaton Oasis Christian Centre 'time to talk', which is a community service where people can go to talk about mental health issues.
"His death has been a massive loss to our family and his friends as he was a big personality. This has been the hardest thing we have had to deal with as a family and we all love and miss him dearly.
"We definitely feel there needs to be an increased awareness of mental illness, particularly in young men, and better access to help."
At the inquest, held at Derby Coroners Court, Sophie Lomas, assistant coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, recorded a verdict of suicide. Mental health issues were listed as a contributory factor to Mr Baldwin's death by a pathologist, following a post-mortem examination completed on January 7, 2022.
Reading statements from family members and police officers, Ms Lomas said that Mr Baldwin was born in Nottingham and his family lived in Sutton-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield. He was discovered dead in the morning of January 4, 2022, when his father visited his home in Station Road, Long Eaton, after concerns were raised for his welfare by his former partner.
Police officers later found a note left by Mr Baldwin. They found no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement during their inquiries.
Health records showed that Mr Baldwin had visited his GP on several occasions following the crash, reporting symptoms of mental health issues including low mood, low appetite, and flashes of suicidal thoughts. However, he told doctors at the time that he did not wish to act on these.
Recording her verdict, Ms Lomas said: "These cases are difficult as there are lots of questions, especially 'why?', and I have to limit that to 'by what means', rather than the broader why. I know that is not always satisfactory.
"Rhys Baldwin died at his home address in Long Eaton on January 4, 2022. Rhys had suffered with mental health problems for a considerable number of years, following injuries sustained in a road traffic collision in 2010. This court is satisfied, on balance, that Rhys had the intention of ending his life.
"Let me conclude by offering my condolences on behalf of the staff here. It is so difficult, this situation, as there are always so many unanswered questions. My process can never answer all of those."
You can call the Samaritans any time to talk about your issues on 116 123
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