A 13-YEAR-OLD boy’s death was described as ‘inexplicable’ after he was found hanged at home.

Declan Gatenby, who, after his death, was described as a real character who made everyone laugh, was discovered in his bedroom at his house in Stacksteads.

On the morning of his death on July 7 this year, his mum Donna had gone to work at 11.30am, while Declan, brother Jordan, nine, and their dad Warren went on a bike ride and visited his grandma.

After arriving back at home in Church Gardens, Stacksteads, Declan went out to play with his brother as it was a hot day.

The inquest heard that Declan, a pipil at Fearns Community College, had been grounded by his parents for misbehaving at school, but was now allowed out. He had also had his phone taken off him as punishment.

At around 5.30pm he had asked his dad if he could have his phone back, but was told that he was not allowed it until the following day.

Mr Gatenby said in a statement that he then heard the front door open and close and presumed Declan had gone back outside to continue playing.

An hour later Declan was found in his bedroom.

In his statement, read out by the coroner, Mr Gatenby said: “We had had problems with him but nothing that gave huge cause for concern.

“He would try to push the boundaries but that was expected. We were not aware of any significant problems at school. He did get in some bother but it was not significant.”

The inquest was told that Declan had never self-harmed before and had shown no signs of any depression.

Coroner Richard Taylor said Declan’s death was ‘inexplicable’ and recorded a verdict of misadventure, saying that Declan had not meant to end his own life.

He told Declan’s family: “I cannot imagine what you have had to go through over the past few months.

“People were coming and going and he maybe expected somebody to come upstairs and find him.”

Declan also leaves behind a sister, 12-year-old Holly, who recently made a YouTube video in his memory.

A Facebook tribute page also has more than 1,500 likes.

A comment on the group said: “Declan was a wonderful lad. He always made people laugh, even if it was a dull and sad place he could always cheer everyone up.”