A young man who had ambitions to join the Royal Navy took his own life, an inquest has concluded. 

Joshua Harry Chew, 23, had just come home from celebrating Christmas with his mother when he took his life on the railway at Brierfield on New Year’s Day.

Mr Chew, of Rochester Drive, Burnley, was taken home by his mother, Lianne Abram on New Year’s Eve after spending a week with her in Kidderminster over the festive period.

He saw the new year in with his friends and stayed the night at Ben Kelly’s house – a friend since school.

Mr Kelly said that when Mr Chew returned to his home at about 2am, it was clear he had been drinking and thought he may have also taken drugs but was not sure.

Mr Chew left at around 3pm before returning to his grandmother, Isabel Chew’s house who thought he had taken some drugs.

Coroner Richard Taylor said: “He went upstairs at about 6pm.

“She thought he has gone to bed but very soon after, she described him as a ‘man possessed’.

“He ran straight down the stairs, out the front door and across the road.”

In the days leading up to Mr Chew’s death, his mother said that he didn’t seem to be any different than normal, describing him as 'happy and cheerful' but, in the past, he had spoken with her about being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder and depression.

She would question him about his medication, but he would always avoid the question and tell her he was fine.

Ms Abram took him back to Burnley as he was ‘keen to get back for New Year’s Eve’ and on the way back he talked to her about his ambitions for joining the Royal Navy.

His on and off girlfriend of three years, Abigail Brown said that although they were not together over the festive period, they were talking regularly.

Miss Brown said he was ‘good at hiding his feelings’ and that he had taken a ‘variety of drugs’ in the past but had none while he was at his mother’s house.

She said he was sending her messages asking, ‘whether she would come to his funeral if he died’ and that ‘if he was to die, he wanted to die young’.

Mr Taylor concluded that Mr Chew’s death was a result of suicide.

He said: “It would seem to be a deliberate act he has undertaken although there is nothing to suggest as to why he may have done that.”

Anyone struggling with their mental health can reach out to services such as the Samaritans’ free helpline on 116 123.