A 'unique and much-loved' rugby player took his own life following a battle with cocaine and alcohol, an inquest has heard.
Andrew Parker was found collapsed and unresponsive in a hotel room in Wigan town centre on March 24.
The 41-year-old, who played for a number of amateur rugby league sides including Wigan St Patricks, died as a result of 'hanging' and was found to have taken a significant amount of cocaine prior to his death.
An inquest at Bolton Coroners Court today (Monday) heard that Mr Parker, from Golborne, had struggled with depression and substance abuse for several years.
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Shortly before his death, he sent a message to his wife, Melanie, saying he loved her and her children and was 'sorry for letting them all down'.
Mrs Parker told the hearing her husband would frequently 'binge' on cocaine and alcohol at weekends and would later experience a 'comedown effect' which left him feeling depressed.
She said Mr Parker managed to stop drinking in the lead up to Christmas last year, but seemed to be worried about relapsing over the festive period.
"He was really quiet and a bit moody," she explained.
"It was not what Andy was like. He was never a moody or quiet person.
"He could foresee what was coming and was worrying about it."
Mrs Parker told the inquest she noticed a deterioration in her husband as Christmas approached.
"He started drinking a lot," she added.
"From January, he was just in a spiral. It was a pattern of every weekend he went drinking, used cocaine and then came down all week, then he would do it again."
On March 14, the inquest heard Mr Parker moved out of the family home following an argument with his wife.
"I could not take it anymore," Mrs Parker said. "He wanted to stop but he wouldn't."
The couple later reconciled and were in 'constant contact', according to Mrs Parker, although she refused to allow him to move back in with her and her children.
"He needed to sort himself," she explained.
"I said to him that I feel like the more I'm helping, I'm just enabling you."
On one occasion, Mrs Parker said her husband had threatened to jump in front of a train.
On March 19, she phoned the police after becoming concerned by a post on Mr Parker's Facebook about him 'going out with a bang'.
Officers found him at a hotel in Warrington but, following an assessment, decided there was no immediate risk of Mr Parker harming himself.
Mrs Parker said that following this, her husband planned to 'sort himself out', booking a GP appointment and promising to start attending support groups.
But on the morning of March 24, Mrs Parker woke up to a number of 'concerning' messages from her husband.
In one, he told her he loved her and her children and was 'sorry for letting them all down'.
When he failed to respond to several messages and calls, Mrs Parker rang the Premier Inn hotel where he had checked in the previous afternoon.
A member of staff went to Mr Parker's room and found his body. Paramedics arrived and tried to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pathologist Dr Stephen Wells carried out a post-mortem examination on Mr Parker and gave his cause of death as 'hanging'.
He said toxicology tests revealed Mr Parker had drank alcohol and taken a 'significant amount of cocaine' prior to his death.
Mr Wells told the hearing it was possible that the 'psychological effect of cocaine and alcohol may have had some effect on his state of mind'.
Dr Syed Shahbazi, a GP at Family Medical Practice, said Mr Parker had reported drug and alcohol misuse as far back at 2007 and had been prescribed anti-depressants 'on and off'.
During an appointment on March 22, he said Mr Parker told him he felt 'life was not worth living' and revealed that he had contacted mental health services for help.
The inquest was told about a previous attempt Mr Parker had made to end his life about 13 years ago.
He was saved by his father, Grahame, who turned up at his home and found him hanging after receiving a call from Mr Parker's rugby coach when he failed to turn up to a match.
Mr Parker Snr said his son had struggled following the death of his mother to cancer, but seemed 'upbeat' in the days prior to his death.
Assistant coroner Stephen Teasdale recorded a conclusion of 'suicide' and said he was satisfied Mr Parker intended to end his life.
He added: "He had the separation and he was working back. That seems to have been his best chance of reforming. He seems to be trying to reform.
"There is a period of time where he may have taken further cocaine and alcohol.
"It seems to be as a result of that combinations that he made a tragic decision."
Wigan St Patricks paid tribute to Mr Parker following his death. A post on the club's Facebook page read: "Our club once again has been shocked and deeply saddened by the death of Andy Parker, former player and much loved member of Wigan St Patricks.
"Andy could light up any room, was a joy to be around and a valued team mate to many players and his coaches.
"He was unique, funny and loved by many people at our club. Being in his company was an experience for sure.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and everyone who's life he touched.
"A light has certainly gone out with his passing. We will remember you always and hope you have found the peace you needed. "
