Grieving boyfriend jumped in front of train days after girlfriend found hanged

A "heathbroken" boyfriend threw himself under the wheels of a train days after the death of his girlfriend.

Warehouse worker Adam Howarth, 29, had been due to go on a date with 27-year-old Chloe Spencer but she cancelled.

She was found hanged at her home the following morning and it is believed she sent a text to Adam at 3am, just two hours before her body was discovered.

Six days later, Adam jumped in front of a train near his home in Wigan, Greater Manchester.

Police believe he tried to jump out of the way at the last minute but was struck by the train and died from multiple injuries.

Details of the tragedy emerged at Bolton Coroner's Court in June this year as two separate inquests into the couple's deaths were held on the same day.

The pair had begun dating in July 2018, but their 11-month relationship was said to have had its "ups and downs".

On the day before her death, mother-of-one Chloe, a mental health nursing assistant, had arranged to go out with a friend, David McCormick.

Adam's mother Ann Lloyd told the hearing: "Adam and Chloe were due to go on a date on June 21 but she cancelled that night. The following day Adam unexpectedly received a call from a friend saying she had taken her own life and as consequence of this, Adam was heartbroken.

"Essentially he struggled over that period and he attended a mental health assessment on June 27. During that assessment he was asked if he wanted to harm or kill himself and he said no, and said if he would, he would wait until after the funeral.

"He had planned on carrying his partner's coffin and there was some belief he was going to have a follow up the next day from the mental health team. Later that day he went out to his cousins house for a BBQ and he seemed quiet but OK. After a while he was talking of going to see a friend and he went to see him and had a couple of drinks with him at the local pub.

"He returned home and we were having a bit of a laugh but then he went out again and I was told by my niece that she saw him and he appeared upset. His family all continued to search for him. When we were unable to locate him we reported him missing.

"We found out the next day that sadly he was deceased."

Mrs Lloyd added: "In the week leading up to his death he was heartbroken following his partner's death. There was some mention previously about that if he threw himself off his father's balcony then it would be quick. But he had plans for the future, he had recently been offered a new job and he planned to meet up with some friends the next day.

"He had wanted to see if he could carry his partner's coffin. When he was asked if he had any suicidal thoughts he kept saying he had to get through the funeral first. I was just thinking I've got time to get him out of this and get him through the grief.

"His mental health deteriorated significantly because of his partner's death. On 27 June he was finding out if he could carry the coffin. His girlfriend's mum was saying he couldn't but her sister was trying to change her mum's mind.

"It was playing on his mind a lot and he never found out that day and there were some texts on his phone asking about it. The last minute I saw him he have me a cuddle and said he loved me, then left and his phone was on charge. He was an absolutely wonderful son."

Chloe's mother Deborah Spencer said her daughter had suffered with mental health problems since she fell victim to a sexual assault several years previously.

She had also been fighting for custody of her child.

Mrs Spencer said: "On June 21 she had her first date with David. She was meant to come back to mine to sleep but instead she collected her keys and returned to her home.

"I last spoke to her at 3am on 22 June 2019. She phoned me but she didn't seem anxious or depressed during the call. We discussed some building work that needed to be done and we made arrangements to see each other later that day. I'm aware Chloe had taken tablets in the past but I believe those were a cry for help and I do not believe this particular incident was a clear indication for a Chloe to end her own life.

"I would describe Chloe as a beautiful person, a wonderful daughter and sister, but most of all she adored her daughter in the short years she has given some wonderful memories. We are all deeply distressed by her death."

Mr McCormick said: "I had a date with Chloe on the last day of her life and I picked her up about 5.30/6pm. We had a couple of drinks at the pub and then went to a bar at about 8.30pm and then went back to Chloe's house.

"We just drank and had a laugh and we joked. I went to sleep at about 11.30pm as I was training for a charity fight the next day. I woke up at about 5am to go to the toilet and I found her hanging from the stairs.

"There's lots of times I was thinking 'what if I had woke up ten minutes earlier' but I just can't say. It was such a short window. She seemed in a good mood. She had spoke about her mental health issues but she said she was taking medication and she seemed fine – there's no way in the world I thought she would do it."

Tests showed Chloe had 176 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of a blood.

There were also traces of cocaine in her system.

Det Insp Phillip Housley, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "It is unusual for someone to meet up with a first date and for one of the parties to be found deceased in the morning.

"We looked at Chloe's phone records and phone text messages and there was a message sent to someone called Adam at 3.03am but there is no suggestion that was responded to. There was no evidence to suggest foul play."'

Adam was found dead next to tracks near Wigan North Western railway station on June 28.

It emerged he had been due to meet mental health experts after he was referred to them by his counsellor but he was never seen due to staff shortages.

Det Ch Insp Lee Owen of British Transport Police said: "Adam was said to be deeply upset because of the death of his girlfriend and indicated he wanted to harm himself to his mum. He was upset and commented he wouldn't be able to carry her coffin and commented that he wanted to be with her.

"There is no indication of third party involvement or suspicious circumstances. We believe he made the decision to enter the track by himself.

"No note was found. With my person opinion, looking at the way he was struck by the train, I believe it was his intention to jump out of the way at the last minute."

Recording a narrative conclusion on Chloe's death and a suicide verdict on Adam, coroner Rachel Syed said: "Adam had an on-off relationship. Very sadly Adam was informed his partner had ended her own life.

"Quite understandably Adam was devastated by this news and struggled to come to terms with her death. I was told he accessed the counselling service and an assessment took place on 27 June 2019, and during this he disclosed to his counsellor he had suicidal thoughts.

"Sadly he died on the railway line having struggled to cope with the unexpected death of his partner."

She added: "At no point did Chloe disclose to her family, GP or mental health services that she intended to take her own life. 'There is no evidence she was researching how to take her own life and this came as a great shock to her family."

Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at  [email protected]

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