A 20-YEAR-OLD took his life after breathing in helium left over from a kids party, an inquest heard.

Joshua Green was described by the coroner as the most ‘troubled soul’ he had dealt with in his 22-year career.

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After the hearing his family described Joshua as being loved by many people and they thought he was amazing.

But his brother added it was “hard for young people nowadays” because your life is out there on social media.

Before committing suicide on July 27, the IT worker left extensive notes on a laptop computer detailing his unhappiness over a prolonged period.

However, family members at an inquest in Blackburn yesterday said Joshua, who lived at the family home in Knowles Street, Rishton, ‘seemed normal’ in the days before his death.

Giving evidence at the hearing his brother, Rick Holbrook, 32, said the former Norden High School and Blackburn College student was living alone as his mother was ill at the time.

Mr Holbrook said he had not noticed anything amiss with his brother in the days before his death.

He said: “Whenever we would leave each other we would hug and say we loved each other.

“He hadn’t said anything to us that would lead us believe he was intending to do this.

“He was living alone due to our mother’s illness but would visit me and his sister Michelle for meals.

“I was in complete shock when I found him that day. There was nothing that prepared me for it. I just thought, ‘oh my God, what’s he done?’.”

Social worker and mental health professional Patrick O’Brien, who was Joshua’s care worker, told the court that he was a ‘polite, courteous and lovely boy’.

Mr O’Brien said Joshua was referred to an early intervention scheme in May 2012.

He said: “I saw him for around a year, he had issues with his confidence and he did some cognitive behavioural therapy, we talked about his education, he was very bright and at that time he wanted to be a dentist.

“After around a year he seemed well, we did not identify any psychosis or risk of suicide.”

Mr O’Brien said Joshua left the mental health team’s care by mutual agreement in September 2013 with an exit plan.

He said: “I next saw him around four months before his death when I bumped into him where he was working at The Range in Blackburn.

“Everything seemed positive, he looked healthy, his features had become chiselled and he told me he wanted to become a model.”

Pathology evidence was given to the hearing which gave the cause of death as asphyxiation. There was no alcohol or drugs in his blood or urine.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Michael Singleton, said: “I’ve read through the writings he left on the laptop and in my 22 years as a coroner I’ve never seen such an amount of material which shows a more troubled soul over a long period of time.

“The mind can go to very dark places and from the evidence he could see no good in the world.

“If it is any consolation to his family, I firmly believe that there wasn’t anybody or anything which could have prevented this and at least now, whatever form it takes, Joshua is at peace.”

Speaking after the hearing Mr Holbrook said: “Joshua was loved by so many people and all his family thought he was amazing.

“He had so many mates from Accrington, Blackburn, Darwen and Manchester.

“All of them described him a sweet natured with a terrific smile.

“He could make a room full of people laugh with no effort at all.

“From all the evidence here it shows that he decided on this outcome. He was self sufficient and knew what he was doing.

“It’s hard for young people nowadays, your life is out there on the platform of social media and there’s pressure with that. It can affect your confidence.

“He had one life on the outside and another deep inside, in his private thoughts.

“I will read the material he left on his computer once the coroner releases it but I doubt it will give us any answers.”