A boy who was found hanged in woods after an argument with his mum did not intend to kill himself, an inquest heard.
Jai Palermo, 13, was found dead just hours after going missing from his family home in Hook, Pembrokeshire, shortly before 1am on January 23 2020.
He was described as a ‘happy-go-lucky and adventurous’ boy and his mum Nia Owen ‘fell to the floor’ when she heard Jai was hanged.
The coroner Paul Bennett heard how he had ADHD and dyspraxia and suffered from sleeping difficulties from the age of 6.
Mr Bennett said his condition meant Jai may have been ‘unable to understand the fatal consequences’ of his actions after an ’emotional reaction’ to the argument.
Jai’s family realised he was missing after being dropped home from school by his grandma.
A post-mortem examination carried out determined his cause of death as being ‘pressure on the neck’.
Nia said: ‘He was very busy from a young age, would give anything a go, had no fear.’
Jai was a member of the kayaking club and Scouts and had plans to see his dad and go on his first date with his girlfriend the following weekend after he was found hanged.
Police said his death was ‘sudden and unexplained’ with ‘nothing to suggest foul play or third party involvement’.
Nia said she was informed by police that her son had taken his own life.
She said: ‘Two officers came in and I remember thinking ‘he’s not with them, maybe he’s in the car.
‘The lady said they had found him and I said ‘OK’. She then said that they had found him and that he was dead. I fell to the floor.
‘I asked what happened and she said that he had hung himself
‘I was in complete shock. He was so close.
‘He was just a child. He was happy, he was loved, he was given everything.’
Nia told Haverfordwest Coroner’s Court she was concerned Jai had not been properly warned on the side-effects of his medication.
But Mr Bennett said they played no part in his death.
He said: ‘I cannot be satisfied that he intended to end his life.’
His conclusion was given as misadventure and he said: ‘It is my view that Jai felt in some way compelled to take the step he did and he did not have the ability to stop and consider the consequences of what he was doing.’
Need support?
For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
If you’re a young person, or concerned about a young person, you can also contact PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide UK. Their HOPELINK digital support platform is open 24/7, or you can call 0800 068 4141, text 07860039967 or email: pat@papyrus-uk.org between the hours of 9am and midnight.
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