A dad was found dead at home after taking his own life, an inquest has heard.
Andrew Rutherford, 33, went to bed at around 1am on March 13, and asked his girlfriend Ellie Stokes to follow him.
Miss Stokes stayed downstairs for one more drink and when she went up less than an hour later, she found Andrew unresponsive.
READ MORE : Mum given 'massive shock' after newborn gets incurable diagnosis
Assistant coroner Jason Wells reached a conclusion of suicide during an inquest at South Manchester Coroner's Court.
Following the inquest, Andrew's mother Jacqueline Cantwell told the Manchester Evening News: "He was everybody's friend. He would do anything to help anybody.
"He was above and beyond."
'I didn't see it coming at all'
The court heard that Andrew, of Stockport, had used cocaine for a number of years and also drank recreationally.
Andrew's father, also called Andrew Rutherford, told the inquest that he did not notice anything untoward in his son's behaviour in the days prior to his death.
He said: "He disguised it very well. He came across as happy-go-lucky.
"I didn’t see it coming at all."
Andrew's GP at Brinnington Surgery, Dr Michael Richardson, stated that Andrew did not have an extensive history of mental illness.
In a statement read out in court, Dr Richardson said that Andrew presented with stress in 2012 - due to money problems and having recently lost his accommodation.
He told his doctor that he was contemplating an overdose but he was not diagnosed with depression.
Dr Richardson noted that Andrew had been unhappy with the advice he received during the consultation.
He visited the doctor again in October 2019 and told them that he was struggling with stress.
Andrew was given a two-week sick note and told to return for a review if he felt like he needed to.
Dr Richardson said that Andrew did not present at the surgery again before his death.
Andrew was 'in good spirits', partner says
Andrew's girlfriend Miss Stokes told the court that in the week leading up to his death, he had secured work as a roofer with her cousin.
She said that he wanted to treat her with the money that he had earned, having been worrying about money prior to getting the job.
The court also heard that Andrew had self-harmed in the weeks leading up to his death but Miss Stokes said that he had sworn her to secrecy and 'promised' not to do it again.
On the night of March 12, Miss Stokes described Andrew as being 'in good spirits'.
She said that he had drank around eight cans of Desperados and taken 'a bag' of cocaine, but added that this was not a large amount of the drug for him.
As he went to bed at 1am, the court heard that Andrew asked Miss Stokes three times to come up with him.
She stayed downstairs for another drink and told the court that she was also keeping an eye on her children, who were in the living room.
Miss Stokes said that she thought it was strange that Andrew had not been back down for a cigarette so went upstairs to check on him.
She found Andrew unresponsive and ran to a neighbour's house to call for an ambulance.
Emergency services arrived at the house in Walnut Tree Road at around 2am and Andrew was pronounced dead.
A toxicology report confirmed that Andrew had cocaine and alcohol in his system at the time of his death.
Following a post mortem, Dr Vicki Howarth confirmed that hanging was the medical cause of death.
She also noted a self-harm cut on his arm and historical scars, believed to be evidence of self-harm.
Reaching a conclusion of suicide, Mr Wells said: "A week and half prior to his death, the deceased cut his right arm in a deliberate act of self-harm. Further scars on his arm suggest previous self-harm.
"On the night of March 12, he was at home with his partner. He took cocaine and drank alcohol.
"He went to bed shortly after 1am and seemed normal. Shortly after he was found dead.
"There is no indication anyone else was involved."
