A devastated Darlington mum who was “categorically told” a serious incident at her son’s college did not involve him was told shortly afterwards by police that he was dead, an inquest heard.
Sam Coutts, 18, was found unresponsive in a toilet at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College on January 13, after emergency services were called at 1.30pm over concerns for his welfare.
The A-level student, who had “high functioning autism”, was pronounced dead at the scene following a meeting with the vice-principal about social media posts in which he expressed he had a crush on his support worker.
An inquest into Sam’s death, held at Crook Coroners Court on Tuesday (October 20), heard how his mum, Kirsten, said she was “categorically told” the “serious incident” she had been alerted to by staff at the college did not involve her son.
The court heard Kirsten nearly stopped at the school but did not because she thought it didn’t involve him. She then went home to look for Sam, when police arrived at her home and told her that her son had been found.
Principal Laurence Job, who found Sam in the disabled toilet after a three-and-a-half-hour search, said staff were instructed by police not to confirm Sam’s identity over the phone.
Coroner Crispin Oliver said: “It is concerning if she was told a serious incident was not involving Sam, as it exaggerates and escalates the anguish she would have felt.”
Mr Job said police and ambulance staff told college workers not to name or identify Sam by phone until he was formally identified.
The principal said the staff member who spoke to Kirsten had a “clear recollection” of telling her they were “not in a position to say anything”.
The court also heard Sam met vice-principal Theresa Amarawansa hours before his death after posting on Reddit about a crush on his support worker.
His mother Kirsten said Sam would have “felt ashamed” after the meeting, which he was allowed to leave on his own.
His learning support worker Lauren Crosby told the court the Christmas before his death, he had previously emailed her the song ‘All I want for Christmas is you’ by Mariah Carey, which she said “concerned her” and was “unsettling” and reported it to a member of staff.
Safeguarding lead Ms Amarawansa, who gave evidence by video link, said the college decided on January 5 to change support workers after the Christmas Day email, promising a “gradual transition” from Lauren to a new worker.
She said Sam agreed to the changes made during the meeting.
After the meeting, Ms Amarawansa rang Kirsten and said it had “gone well” and Sam seemed “fine” and “positive”.
She also said staff “had enough training and expertise in the college to support students with autism”.
The court heard Sam had left a note and written in a journal his family knew nothing about.
Crispin Oliver said Sam’s “mental health was like an iceberg”.
He said: “There was very little we knew in terms of what was going on and what you actually knew, and what was in those diaries, which was ‘very, very sad’.”
Extra security measures were added on the second day of the inquest after staff at the college received a “targeted” threat via an anonymous email.
Coroner Crispin Oliver told Sam’s parents that college staff were absent from the hearing and proposed they give evidence remotely.
He said the college received an email on Monday from “an unknown person claiming to be part of some sort of group” containing a threat.
The inquest also heard that Sam intervened when a family member suffered a mental health crisis three months earlier and saved their life by talking to them.
Kirsten described her son to the court as loving, gentle, quiet, engaging, adventurous and erudite, with a wicked sense of humour.
Emergency services at QE College in Darlington.
In a tribute to The Northern Echo, she said: “If there is one thing that I could hope to come as a result of our heartbreak, it would be for people to think about what they say to other people and think about the power of their words.
“People can say the cruellest things about others and it doesn’t have to be that way – why can’t people just be nicer to each other.”
Sam left behind his mother, father Matthew, three siblings, stepfather and two stepsiblings.
The coroner adjourned the hearing until Wednesday when he will give his conclusion after 11am.
Read more
North East woman who wanted Pilates to be 'for everybody' strikes gold at nationals
College staff sent 'targeted' threat during inquest into Darlington teen's death
MP demands answers over Darlington Post Office closure as staff face uncertain future
If you are in need of support you can contact the following:
- Samaritans are here to listen – day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123 or visit * samaritans.org**.*
- If U Care Share on 0191 387 5661 or text IUCS to 85258
- SANE on 07984 967 708, Calm on 0800 58 58 58