A VET from Northwich who ‘put on a happy face to the world’ was found dead at home after taking his own life, an inquest has heard.
Robert William Taylor, 28, had taken an overdose of Pentobarbital – a barbiturate that is no longer licensed to be used on humans in the UK, but is widely used in veterinary practice.
Mr Taylor's body was found at his home in Violet Grove by two of his friends, Lorraine Campbell and Matthew Heath, on the morning of July 17, who had gone to check on his welfare as he had not turned up for work.
Alan Moore, Senior Coroner for Cheshire, presided over the documentary-led inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court on November 30.
He said how Mr Taylor had been diagnosed as having epilepsy in 2014 and was on prescribed medication, including Lamotrigine, as his condition resulted in him suffering from seizures.
Mr Moore read out evidence from Mr Taylor's wife Lydia Reynolds, in which she explained how her husband's seizures became more spread out and less frequent and how an appointment at the Walton Neurological Centre in Liverpool hasn't been able to determine any root cause for them.
Robert Taylor, who died in July at his home in Northwich
She said: "The last one I can remember him having was around Christmas 2019.
"Doctors increased his Lamotrigine which left him feeling flat and empty.
"Although it was having a positive effect on his seizures it was having a severe effect on his mental health making him feel very depressed.
"The problem was Robert wouldn’t believe he was depressed and he would still go out and go to work as a vet and put on a happy face to the world."
Mr Taylor, who had never made any suggestion he would commit suicide, despite the couple having spoken about suicide in general terms, sought the help of his GP on June 30.
"It was only a couple of weeks before his passing that Robert made an attempt to get help with his depression," his wife added.
"It was only near the end that he accepted he had a mental health condition and sought assistance to combat it.
"He was given a low dosage of anti-depressants but they didn’t combat his mood due to the other medication he was taking."
His wife, who wasn't living with her husband at the time of his death, said she last contacted him via WhatsApp message at around 8pm on July 16.
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The inquest also heard evidence from Mr Taylor's father William who said he had last spoken to his son on the telephone the night before his death, in which he had told him he 'wasn't good' when ask how he was feeling.
However, despite the concern, Mr Taylor had also spoken on the phone to his sister during the same phone call in which they had made plans to meet up the following week, which seemed to 'lift his spirits'.
The following morning, shortly before 10am, Mr Taylor's friends, who had set up a WhatsApp to keep in contact with each other and to monitor his well-being, were informed he hadn't attended work.
Having received another message about an hour later which re-confirmed he still hadn't attended his work, Lorraine Campbell and Matthew Heath decided to go to his home to check on him.
They arrived just before midday and although the door was shut, it was unlocked, so they let themselves in and went upstairs, where they found Mr Taylor on the bed.
Despite efforts to resuscitate him, Mr Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Sergeant John Lyon from Cheshire Police, who attended the scene after a report from North West Ambulance Service of a body being found, attended the scene, where he found a typed letter on the bed signed 'Rob'.
DS Lyon said: "This letter indicated that Rob had intended to take his own life along with some administrative elements regarding finances which showed an element of planning and preparation.
"There was no evidence of any third party involvement and the family had informed me about a recent history of depression."
A toxicology report carried out by Philippa Wood, showed the amount of Pentobarbital in Mr Taylor's blood was at a fatal level and consistent with excessive use with the potential to lead to respiratory depression.
In reaching a conclusion of suicide, Mr Moore said: "Mr Taylor died as a result of self-administered dose of Pentobarbital which had been administered with the intention of ending his own life.
"It is my sad duty in this inquest to record a conclusion of suicide."
When life is difficult, Samaritans are here – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
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