By Sammie Jones-
A University of Essex student found dead by his friend took his own life after being depression from a relationship breakdown, an inquest has heard.
Michael John Bailey, 21, was living in Colchester while he studied at University of Essex and had become a “valued” staff member at a local Nando’s.
However, Michael was sadly found dead by a friend on May 13 this year.An inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court on Thursday concluded that Michael’s death was an intentional act of suicide.
Michael from Leeds, was studying at University of Essex in Colchester and working at Nando’s. He had become a “valued member of staff”, according to his mother.
The youngster had previously told his mother about having suicidal thoughts, but assured her he had changed his mind and no longer wanted to take his own life. This either proved to be untrue, or changed later.
On May 13, 2021, Michael was found unresponsive by his housemate in Colchester. The court heard that his friend had gone to wake Michael up as they were due to start a shift together at work.
In a life letter read to the court, Michael’s mother said she had spoken to him for 90 minutes only a week before his death.
Michael had been enjoying going to the gym and had bought “new powders and gym gear”, however his mother said he had become self-conscious about how thin he believed he was.
The court heard that his friend had gone to wake Michael up as they were due to start a shift together at work.
Only last week, it was revealed that another university student, Will Bargate, took his own life after he stopped engaging with his business course amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Will Bargate, 23, was in the second year of his course at Warwick University at the time of the first national lockdown and had moved back to his family home in Little Sampford in Essex to work remotely.
His dad Quentin Bargate said his son, who got straight A grades at A-level, was “always smiling, always seemed to be happy and engaged”.
The inquest said Warwick Univeristy should have been proactive in preventing the eventual suicide of Will Bargate, 23, who was in the second year at the time of the first national lockdown and had moved back to his family home in Little Sampford in Essex to work remotely.
His dad Quentin Bargate said his son, who got straight A grades at A-level, was “always smiling, always seemed to be happy and engaged”.
He did not sit any of his second-year exams, and therefore failed his course, and did not respond to two emails of 24 July inviting him to take re-sits and to arrange another meeting with his tutor, the inquest was told. Another email was sent in August.
The tragic boy’s family was unaware of his issues at university and believed they should have been contacted.
Three days after Will was found dead, a letter arrived informing him that Warwick had “no choice but to suspend his studies”.