A TALENTED musician who struggled to cope with the feelings and emotions associated with Aspergers, died from a brain injury after attempting to take his own life.

Alex Rogahn, died at Royal Blackburn Hospital on November 2, just hours after he was found unconscious, foaming at the mouth, on the sofa at his home in Whitefield Terrace, Burnley.

At an inquest in Preston, it was heard that on the evening of November 1, Mr Rogahn, 23, who had been diagnosed with Aspergers at the age of 13, had taken a combination of drugs, including diazapam, the tranquiliser ketamine, and a lethal amount of the pain killer, oxycodone.

Coroner James Newman said that Mr Rogahn, who had been suffering with depression and anxiety, would spend hours researching alternative ways of dealing with Aspergers and had tried to micro-dose and self medicate in the past using a number of different substances.

On the night before his death he expressed his intentions to take his own life to friends via a Whatsapp group.

The inquest heard that on the same evening, Mr Rogahn had also posted concerning messages on Facebook before deleting his account.

It was explained that Mr Rogahn had on several previous occasions, made references to taking his own life, but on the evening of November 1, his friends became increasingly concerned and contacted the police, before also contacting his mother.

Mr Newman said: "The police attended at around 11.45pm and were able to access the property from the back door. Officers found Alex on the sofa, surrounded by packets of medication and what looked like a bag full of white powder, along with a note expressing his intentions."

It was explained that Mr Roghan had been breathing on arrival and officers had administered CPR for around an hour and a half in an attempt to keep him alive, but he was pronounced dead at Royal Blackburn Hospital at 2.15am.

Mr Newman recorded a conclusion of suicide, and said Mr Rogahn died of a catastrophic brain injury after going into cardiac arrest due to combined drug toxicity.

Mr Newman said: "It terrifies me the number of young men that this court has to sit and consider. I would reiterate this - that if there's any opportunity to sit down and talk, if you are a young man, there's no stigma attached to sitting down and talking to your friends.

"It might not always help but if anything can be done to limit the increasing number of young male deaths, then I welcome it."

Speaking at the end of the inquest, Mr Rogahn's mother, Jenny Ashton, said her son was caring and sensitive but had struggled with his feelings since being a little boy.

She said: "He would often say he wished he had never been born. He suffered with depression and anxiety and did seek help but was constantly over thinking things. He had expressed suicidal thoughts for a while and took his first overdose in 2016.

"He was a talented guitarist, cook, web designer and photographer who had worked since he was 16 but often said he felt we would be better off without him and felt a burden to those around him.

"We shared a close relationship but didn't communicate much in the week leading up to his death. He was a beautiful soul and a friend to many and will be missed terribly. He was loved far more than he ever knew."

Mrs Ashton said that even though no-one ever wants to lose a child, she now felt her son was at peace.

A JustGiving page has been set up in memory of Mr Rogahn, and his mother, a former nurse, said she wants any money donated to go towards raising awareness of male suicide.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/jennifer-ashton