People were left heartbroken after a man who was described as 'one of a kind' by his mum took his own life.
Adam Colin Anthony Rowbottom, 27, from Speke was found dead in a woodland next to Beacon Park Golf Club in Skelmersdale on April 17.
The taxi driver, of Alderfield Drive, had struggled with debt since he left home at 15 and lost his job with Jaguar Land Rover before his death.
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An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court heard Mr Rowbottom's mental health deteriorated when he was arrested on suspicion of drug-driving one week before he died.
His sister, Charlotte Whitlock, said Mr Rowbottom had told her about the arrest, which happened in Merseyside on April 8.
Ms Whitlock said: “He told me he’d smoked a joint the previous night and went out that day, got pulled over by the police and the drugs wipe test was positive for cannabis.
“He was very concerned that the would get his licence taken off him which was his means of income.
“He was really distressed about it. I know that was huge for him. It was his freedom.”
Karley Hansen, who had been in a relationship with Mr Rowbottom since July 2020, said he had told her he suffered with mental health issues and had considered suicide.
She said: "But he never really showed it; mostly he was happy and outgoing and constantly doing something and keeping busy.
“He used to love taking my young nephews to the park or out on walks.
“But he was getting into debt and it was a real source of stress for him. He was paying about £300 a week for his taxi and that got taken off him in March because he couldn’t keep up the payments.
“He’d never not had a car; a car was a massive thing for him, he didn’t know life without a car.”
The inquest heard Mr Rowbottom, who was a keen hiker and loved camping, was also devastated when he lost many of his belongings after he failed to keep up repayments on a storage unit.
Miss Hansen, who was giving evidence via video link from Greece, said: “That really upset him, he went into a bit of a depression after that. That was in February 2021.
“Everything that he had ever owned, including things from school and certificates, was gone. He said he felt like he’d lost everything."
Just two weeks before he was found dead Mr Rowbottom had submitted an online form for an appointment with someone from his GP surgery, Aston Healthcare in Huyton.
Staff were immediately concerned about some of the references he made in the form and “within an hour” advanced nurse practitioner Christopher Holloway called Mr Rowbottom.
Mr Rowbottom, who has previously been described as 'one of a kind', was offered an appointment to meet with Mr Holloway in person a week later, on April 12, but he failed to turn up.
However as Mr Rowbottom wasn’t ‘coded’ on the GP’s system as being a vulnerable person, as the coroner said he should have been, there was no attempt to contact him after this and just five days later he was found dead.
Returning a conclusion of suicide the coroner said: "He had a number of difficulties with losing his job and debt which was a cause of anxiety for him."
Dr Adeley made a point of telling Mr Rowbottom’s family that there was “nothing anyone could have done to change the outcome”.
ECHO readers were left heartbroken and saddened by the 27-year-olds death.
Chris Beach said: "Sad the suicide rate in young men is high for various mental health reasons, things happening in their life they can't control.
"It is good to talk and get things off your chest but its hard and sometimes it won't get you out of situations your in. I would always ask people to try and talk to someone it did help me and many others. So sad"
Linda Jones said: "Too many men and women suffering from depression and anxiety, very stressful time and totally inadequate support. Heartbreaking."
Dawn Reilly said: "So sad. I'm sure if he spoke up, he would have had so much support. Bless him."
L24Evertonian said: "I can relate to this young man's struggles, may god bless his soul. No one should judge him or his family and friends but support those in need, we have a big problem with mental health issues and the collapse of society compounds that."
OBA said: "So sad.. RIP fella."
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