A DEVASTATED family are at a loss to explain why their 13-year-old son was found dead at home.

Eddie Hamblett was a popular, sporty and bright pupil at Conyers School in Yarm and neither family, friends or teachers had any indication that he had any problems at all in his life, an inquest at Teesside Coroners Court heard.

On the morning of January 31 his mother, Ruth, went to work at 8am, but returned home to Ingleby Barwick about two hours later to pick up a camera, and found her son’s body. Paramedics battled to revive him, but he died in hospital.

After the inquest she said: “We have no answers as to why he did this. He was really well-liked, really popular and he made us extremely happy every day. We were very, very proud of him and we are completely devastated.

“Over time we have tried to think about why this happened and we have come to a dead end. We have searched our house, and our lives, over and over again to try to find something that we have been missing, but we have just found nothing.”

Eddie’s father, Ian added: “We want to thank everyone who has supported us and been so kind, and said lovely things about Eddie.”

The inquest heard that months before his death Eddie had played a hyperventilation game with friends called the choking game, but his parents said they did not believe this was linked to his death.

Eddie was a good football player, played for several teams, had a lot of friends and was doing well at school, Conyers School said in a statement.

Recording a narrative verdict, Teesside coroner Claire Bailey said: “Eddie hanged himself although there was uncertainty as to his reason to do so.”

She said to the family: “I wish I could provide you with the answers that you need.”

  • Anyone who has been affected by this story, or just needs someone to talk to, can call the free Samaritans helpline on 116123 or email jo@samaritans.org