‘Life and soul of the party’ died after losing friend and becoming isolated during lockdown, inquest hears

A ‘fun-loving and bubbly’ man who was described as being the ‘life and soul of any party’ took his own life after struggling with the loss of a friend and the isolation during lockdown, an inquest has heard.

Adam Wigglesworth, 33, from Bolton, took his own life on Friday 3rd April 2020 just hours after video calling his family and friends.

An inquest into Adam’s death was held at Bolton Coroner’s Court on Tuesday (March 15) where those who knew Adam said he was a loyal and fun man who had many friends.

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Coroner Rachel Syed heard how Adam, who worked as a kitchen assistant at a bar in Wigan, had been deeply affected by the death of a close friend in 2016 which had caused his mental health to suffer.

The inquest heard how Adam had been misusing alcohol and cocaine ‘as a crutch’ to help him after struggling to cope with the death.

A review into Adam’s medical records found he had been accessing counselling and support services ‘on and off’ from 2016 up until February 2020. He was described as having ‘reoccurring suicidal thoughts’ and had made a previous attempt to end his life.

On one occasion in October 2019, Adam’s parents had taken him to his GP because they expressed concerns that ‘there was a risk he would end his own life’. He was later referred for further support and prescribed antidepressants.

“He was bubbly, funny, very lively, very energetic and intelligent,” Adam’s mother Karen Wood told the inquest.

“He was a binge drinker and I don’t think he knew when to stop at times.

“He seemed to struggle with his mental health for a while but it was the death of a close friend that really triggered the beginning of the end for him.

“He was very up