Tributes have been paid to an ‘amazing dad’ who 'fought tooth and nail to make himself better' before he was found dead after a long mental health battle. Darren Mchugh, 39, sadly died on Sunday, June 12.
The family of the 39-year-old dad-of-two, from Leigh, said his mental health had worsened over the last couple of years, which left him ‘crying and pouring his heart out’ to family hours before his death. Darren’s family say he was desperate for help and had reached out to family, friends and professionals before he sadly passed away.
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His sister, Alexandra Mchugh, who spoke to Darren the day he died, told the MEN about the struggles he had been facing. She said he was suffering from psychotic episodes. She said: “He was sectioned for psychosis two years ago but there was no proper medication for it or a proper diagnosis.
“He felt really let down, he was begging for help and no-one was helping him. He was hearing voices and wasn’t sleeping, he’d sit up at the middle of the night and thinking people were going to charge through the door and get him, he was scared.”
The family say Darren began having the episodes two years but had been struggling with his mental health his whole life.
Darren is well known in the Plank Lane estate of Westleigh where he grew up and lived with his family for most of his life. He leaves behind his mother Brenda Mchugh, sister Alexandra Mchugh, brother Martin Mchugh, his eldest son Kyle and young daughter Ellie, and partner Louise Tither.
Described as ‘an amazing dad’ who was a 'wizard with words' Darren’s son, Kyle Steward spoke about Darren’s character and the hole his death has left in the family. Kyle said: “He was an amazing dad, he was mine and Ellie’s hero, he always got back up no matter how hard life hit him. He fought tooth and nail and he gave absolutely everything he had to make himself better and get away from his psychosis and he just could not do it this time.
“He was like a wizard with words, I could have the worst day at work and come home and he’d just make me smile somehow. He (could) never see you struggle, he’d always help you and put you before himself."
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