Well-mannered Chorley teenager took his own life while struggling with sexuality

Harvey Hudson, 17, was found in the woods close to Stansted Road in Chorley by dog walker Paul Fletcher on the afternoon of January 11.

Mr Fletcher said he had noticed something out of place as he was walking through the woods with his black Labrador, and as he moved closer saw it was a teenage boy.

An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Fletcher tried to cut Harvey down and administer CPR but knew it was too late and phoned an ambulance.

Harvey was pronounced dead at the scene at around 5.15pm.

The inquest was told how Harvey, whose uncle had taken his own life some years earlier, had been working at a car garage close to Chorley as part of a motor engineering apprenticeship he was undertaking at Preston College.

However, he had been sacked over an issue with some brake callipers just before Christmas and was worried about finding more work.

The 17-year-old had also been referred to CAMHS (child and adolescent mental health services) in May 2021 following an overdose but had never been diagnosed with an illness and had been discharged from the service.

In a statement from his father, Stuart Hudson, he said Harvey was a typical teenager, who was kind and well-mannered with a good sense of humour but was someone who was quite socially anxious and had been bullied at school.

Coroner Kate Bisset said: “Three or four years ago he’d told his parents he was sad but didn’t know why, and this resulted in him self-harming.

“He was referred to CAMHS but his parents didn’t think he fully opened up about his issues.

“He had a girlfriend for around two years but struggled with his sexuality and didn’t have many friends and wasn’t on social media.

“He was sacked from his apprenticeship job just before Christmas and was worried about returning to college.

“Harvey never wanted to be any trouble to anyone.”

A statement from one of the triage specialists who saw Harvey in May 2021 following his overdose, said that he had struggled with the way he looked and didn’t like the way he acted or felt about himself.

Ms Bisset continued: “The specialist said Harvey had told her he had a good relationship with his family and had support from them, but that his uncle had taken his own life some years earlier and his mum was worried that Harvey would do the same thing.”

Why do newspapers cover inquests and how do they work?

The inquest was told that one of Harvey’s lecturers had seen him on the day of his death but noted in his statement that the teenager didn’t return to afternoon lessons following their lunch break at 12.12pm.

His mum had sent a text message to him at 6pm asking if he would be home for tea but a police examination of his phone revealed that he last accessed it at around 3.50pm.

Officers also discovered that in the hours before his death, Harvey had made several searches online about ways to kill himself, as well as several text messages sent to his friends.

In those messages he told them he valued their friendship and would be going away, with one message reading: “You are truly the best people I have ever known.

“I want you to remember that none of this is your fault, and you are the best thing to have happened to me.

“I love you all and bye bye.”

Ms Bisset said a medical cause of death had been offered as one of hanging and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

She said: “It’s clear to me that Harvey was a much-loved son and friend who never wanted to be any trouble to anyone.

“He is fondly remembered and was a caring young man.

“He had struggled with his mental health and had taken an overdose but was moving on with his life.

“He was loved by his family and evidently they were very supportive of who he was and who he wanted to be.”

If you have been affected by anything in this article you can call the Samaritans free on 116 123. 

Anyone experiencing difficulties with their mental health and would like more support can also contact the Rainbow Youth Centre in Darwen.