A BODYBUILDER who died after taking an overdose of weight-loss pills could have been ‘crying out for help’ an inquest heard.

Finlay Connor McGowan, a 26-year-old chef with a passion for fitness, died in the early hours on May 2 after he consumed a fatal dose of an unlicensed weight-loss supplement called 2,4-Dinitrophenol, commonly referred to as DNP.

Three letters addressed to his mum and girlfriend were also found in his bedroom, leaving police to believe the overdose could have been intentional.

Alongside the pills, tests revealed that Mr McGowan had drunk two bottles of wine before he ran into his mother’s bedroom shouting for help.

A statement written by his mother, Catherine McGowan, explains how she went to bed at around 10pm on May 1, but was woken hours later when her son came crashing through her bedroom door.

She said: “I was woken by Finlay saying ‘mum, call me an ambulance.' He told me he had been sick in his bedroom and he was sweating profusely.”

By the time paramedics arrived, Mr McGowan’s feet and hands had turned yellow and he producing a ‘violent yellow colour sick’.

Paramedic Nicola Harrison said when they arrived at the house Mr McGowan was on the floor of his bathroom in Cliff Street, Great Harwood, with an irregular heartbeat.

He was taken to the Royal Blackburn Hospital where his condition quickly deteriorated. He died a short while after of a cardiac arrest.

The inquest also revealed that Mr McGowan had attempted to contact NHS mental health services before he died.

Mrs McGowan said: “He had a normal upbringing. He was a student at St Peter and St Paul’s Primary School in Rishton, and he studied a BTec in catering at Blackburn College.

“He had no issues at school but at the age of 15 he started running and became interested in bodybuilding.”

Mrs McGowan went on to say her son had cupboards full of protein shakes, powders and bars. It was also heard how he would attend the gym five-to-six times a week and put his body through intense cycles of slimming down and then ‘bulking up’.

He had been on a course to be a physical trainer but struggled to find work as one, the inquest heard.

His mother also added that she once found a box of steroids in his bedside drawer and that she was aware he had overdosed in the past, on paracetamol.

This however had been put down as a cry for help as he would always let someone know after he had overdosed.

His girlfriend, Jade Mason also recalled signs of self-harming on Mr McGowan’s body and said she was aware that he had overdosed during their time together. But she said that he always assured her he never wanted to kill himself, just ‘go to sleep’.

She also added that her partner was ‘never satisfied’ and always wanted to be bigger and stronger.

Officers investigating Mr McGowan’s death found steroids and syringes in his home.

Coroner James Newman said: “In concluding this matter I have to find a cause of death and attribute that to whether this was a deliberate act or if this was a further cry for help, as had occurred in the past.

“Finlay was concerned about his body image and he worked hard to maintain his physique. Unfortunately this led him to not only taking normal supplements but also seeking other avenues to improve his image.

“In terms of the circumstances I will record that on the early hours of May 2, Finlay had taken an overdose of an unlicensed weight-loss substance with alcohol.

"He did however immediately seek assistance. Had this not been the case, then I would record no other conclusion than one of suicide. However he has previously done this and sought immediate help.

“Therefore I will conclude that on this occasion this is a further cry for help which has gone tragically wrong.

“He died as a result of an overdose however the matter of intent is not made out fully.”

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