Connor Lee Mark Slade had left his home after a row hoping someone would come looking for him, a coroner has concluded
A schoolboy found unresponsive in a primary school’s grounds had left his home following a disagreement, hoping somebody would search for him, a coroner has determined.
Connor Lee Mark Slade from Neath, south Wales, had no history of suicidal thoughts or intent of self-harm and frequently fled the house after disputes but would typically settle down and come back, an inquest examining the teenager’s death was told.
Connor, said to have been described by his mother Louise Morgan as “a happy boy, one of the lads, a joker and leader of the pack” was found dead on the premises of Melin Primary, Mile End Row, Neath during the early hours of January 29 this year.
The inquest on July 25 was told the 13-year-old maintained solid friendships but had faced exclusion from several schools and was receiving support from Neath Port Talbot social services. He also abused aerosols and occasionally used cannabis, detective constable Siobhan Danaher told the hearing in Swansea.
Connor, who had eight brothers and sisters, lived with his father Keiran Slade before returning to live with his mother in Neath at age 10. Despite having “a quick temper” he had consistently settled down following arguments, the inquest heard.
Connor’s bond with his father was characterised as positive until approximately nine months prior to his death. The inquest was told that on January 28, the evening before his death, Connor had been out and arrived home at approximately 9.30pm, reports Wales Online.
He appeared to be in good spirits, showing no signs of distress while using his phone, according to what his mother and stepfather Jason Clark told police investigators. However, when they discovered that a bottle of vodka and an aerosol had gone missing, they challenged Connor, leading to a confrontation.
Connor started “kicking off” and stormed out of the house without his shoes, returning a short while later to get them before leaving again and threatening to “jump off a bridge”, the inquest heard.
The teenager’s mother and stepfather told police afterwards that Connor had made threats like this before but they did not take it seriously as this was usual and he then returned, assistant coroner Paul Bennett said. Nonetheless Jason went to look for Connor but after walking the street couldn’t find him and returned.
In the early hours of January 29 the couple’s friends David “Dai” Morrow and Amy Winslade, who were visiting at the time, left the house together just as Louise was ringing the police to report Connor missing. Moments later Louise and Jason heard Amy shriek, “Connor, Connor”.
Dai had seen Connor’s body in the playground of nearby Melin Primary.
Jason, a former lifeguard, rushed out and attempted mouth to mouth resuscitation in the six minutes before paramedics arrived on the scene.
Connor was declared dead at shortly afterwards at 3.43am on January 29, DC Danaher told the hearing.
Two reports by forensic pathologist Dr John Williams found the medical cause of Connor’s death was ligature self suspension. Although traces of alcohol and cannabis were found in his system these were not at fatal levels and played no part in his death.
Evidence from Gary Chambers, a wellbeing key worker employed by the education department at Neath Port Talbot Council, was also read out to the hearing.
Mr Chambers, who had worked closely with Connor since 2023, seeing him up to three times a week and visiting him at home over 12 months in that time, described the teenager as “engaging and receptive”.
“I found him polite and respectful,” Mr Chamber’s evidence read out. In it he said: “Connor was often cheerful and engaging with a remarkable sense of humour but had periods of dysregulation.”
Mr Chambers said he was “shocked and saddened” by Connor’s death and at no stage had the teenager showed a desire for self harm or suicide.”
Assistant coroner David Bennett recorded a narrative verdict saying the circumstances did not point to Connor intending to take his life.
“Connor left the house and said he was going to “jump off a bridge”. Jason and Louise considered this “flippant” and not serious intent. They believed he would calm down and return….
“It would appear that following the argument on January 29 Connor left in a state of mind that prevented him thinking clearly. I do not take his remark that he was going to jump off a bridge as anything other than impulsive – something born of temper rather than of intention.
“There is no evidence Connor had suicidal ideation and there was no history of self harm.”
The coroner added that there was also no evidence on the teenager’s phone to suggest he intended to end his life intentionally.
“History suggests Connor had a quick and violent temper he found it hard to control.
“In my view this was not a deliberate act on Connor’s part to end his own life.
“I am not satisfied Connor intended to end his life. Intent cannot be presumed, so I give a narrative conclusion.
“We will never know but I consider it likely that he had an altercation about missing aerosol and alcohol and Connor’s temper got the better of him. Acting on impulse he went to the school and took the step he did thinking someone would come looking for him before it was fatal.”
Offering his condolences to Connor’s family attending the hearing the assistant coroner told them: “Losing a loved one is never an easy process. When someone dies in these circumstances it makes it harder. I hope in the light of these findings will give you some closure to Connor’s passing.”
