09 January 2023 , 18:51
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Come Dine With Me contestant Nicholas Paul Blything took his own life, an inquest has heard.
Viewers of the cooking show were heartbroken when the programme paid tribute to him at the end of an episode in November 2022.
Nicholas was 36 years old when he died on June 15 this year. A funeral notice was posted online during the summer.
The Chester-born contestant was found dead at his home address.
An inquest into Nicholas' death was held on January 9 and area coroner Claire Welch confirmed that his brother Richard found his body in a bedroom at his home.
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Detective Sergeant Paul Davies released a statement saying Nicholas' brother Richard 'attempted to speak to him after his sister had raised concerns that Nicholas had not been in touch.'
The statement continued: "It was Richard who found him and provided police with the formal identification."
Nicholas was found dead at his home address (Channel 4)It was revealed that two suicide notes were found at the scene. Nicholas was diagnosed with PTSD and had been suffering from mental health problems for a while.
Two months before his death, Nicholas was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after he told a friend that he 'might as well throw himself off a cliff'.
He went on to receive treatment and also contacted the Crisis line several times.
According to his family and medical professional, Nicholas was 'improving' and didn't display signs of wanting to take his own life.
His brother Richard released a statement which was read out by Claire: "In recent months, subsequent to the incident in April and being sectioned by the mental health team, he had been depressed and anxious about his future."
Nicholas was sectioned under the Mental Health Act a few months before he died (@ComeDineWithMe/Twitter)Nicholas' mood apparently 'lifted' after he started taking anti-depressants.
"Richard was asked by the mental health team if he thought Nicholas would take his own life, to which he said 'no' because he genuinely never felt he would," it continued.
"In the days before he passed away, he was very buoyant. He collected the dog from his parents, collected plants for his garden, had been mowing his lawn, cleaning his home, sorting out his food shop, said he had a good weekend and that he was going to catch up with him (Richard) in the week."
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Although he was in a 'dark place' in April, Claire added that he was 'improving' and even made plans for the future.
She said of his death: "The statement from his brother confirms that he was making plans for the future.
“However, he apologised to his family and friends that everything had become ‘too much for him to bear’.
“From the notes he left, it is evident that he did intend to take his own life.”