Triple tragedy as man kills self after pal's death then mum takes life next day

25 November 2023 , 15:00

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Ben Bond, 21, took his own life in June this year, and his mother Gemma died by suicide the day after he was found

A triple tragedy has seen a young man take his own life after his friend's death before his mum killed herself too as she could not bear living without her son.

An inquest into the death of Gemma Marie Bond in Shrewsbury was told that she was so close to her 21-year-old son Ben that she took her own life the day after the young man was found dead. The 44-year-old woman, who was described by her mother Dorothy Bond as "a good daughter" and "a great mum" who was "totally devoted to Ben", was found dead at the International Hotel in Telford, Shropshire, on June 25, 2023.

Jack Gilbert's death was not suicide, the coroner ruled

Shropshire senior coroner John Ellery said he was satisfied that warehouse worker Ben Bond had intended to take his own life

Just one day before, her son Ben had taken his own life following the death of his best friend Jack Gilbert, the inquest heard. Ben had vanished from his home on June 18, setting off a large police search, and was discovered in a woodland on June 24. Shropshire senior coroner John Ellery said he was satisfied that warehouse worker Mr Bond had intended to take his own life. The coroner recorded separate conclusions of suicide for the mother and the son, and offered his condolences to their family. Mr Ellery said there was "a tragic link" between the three deaths of Gemma, Ben and Jack.

The coroner offered his condolences to Gemma and Ben's family

Earlier on Thursday, the inquest heard Ben's friend Jack died at his home in Broadway on May 31, 2023. The asthma sufferer from Newport had been sent home from work while suffering from Covid, and had taken a toxic amount of non-prescription drugs when he was found dead in his bedroom, the Shropshire Star reported.

Mr Ellery said there was "no evidence that he (Jack) was considering killing himself". His family had told the inquest that they were "100 per cent" sure that he had not taken his own life on purpose as he had been looking forward to the future, including planning a trip with friends and making plans for future purchases. Jack's father described his son as as a person with "lots of friends" and said his death had prompted a huge response from the community, including a charity walk to work. The coroner ruled out a suicide, and said he was "left with the conclusion that his death was unintentional, and that it was misadventure."

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Chiara Fiorillo