An inquest has heard that nobody was aware that a high-functioning autistic sixth form pupil was experiencing suicidal thoughts before he tragically ended his life in the college toilets. Sam Coutts, 18, was discovered dead at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College, Darlington, in January, after a discussion with the vice-principal regarding social media posts where he revealed he had feelings for his support worker.
Coroner Records Verdict of Suicide
On Christmas Day, he sent his support worker an email containing a link to the Mariah Carey track All I Want For Christmas Is You. On Wednesday, the third day of proceedings at Crook Civic Centre, County Durham Coroner Crispin Oliver recorded a verdict of suicide.
He stated: "It is important to remember that at no time did Sam, at any point before his death, confide in anyone, whether a family member or staff at the college, any suicidal ideation."
No Single Triggering Event
The coroner explained that the intelligent and affectionate teenager had brought the means to end his life into college with him that particular morning. He added: "The meeting therefore cannot be construed as the sole triggering event. Rather, this tragedy was the end point of a continuum of various factors and events building up over months. The most material of these were simply not known to family or college staff." A letter found at the scene made no reference to a triggering event either, Mr Oliver confirmed.
However, the coroner acknowledged it was "a particularly painful part of this grim and sad set of events" that Sam wasn't discovered for three hours following the conclusion of the meeting, although this didn't alter the devastating outcome.
College Response and Background
The inquest previously learned how college principal Laurence Job arranged for a staff member to unlock the secured toilet cubicle, with him being the first to reach Sam, who tragically couldn't be rescued. The coroner noted Sam had been absent from two lessons during this period, though Mr Oliver highlighted that college students enjoyed a certain level of independence.
Mr Oliver remarked: "It has been an extremely painful case for everyone involved, and that includes myself. I can only express my condolences to members of the family and my thanks for their participation. I also express my sympathies with members of the college staff for whom I can appreciate this was an extremely traumatic event. I thank them for their co-operation with this inquest."
Previously, Mr Oliver revealed Sam received an autism diagnosis in 2020 and felt "acutely embarrassed" about the condition, attempting to "cure" himself using the hormone oxytocin. The coroner explained he struggled with change and was highly self-critical, evident from his personal diaries which remained private.
Despite the "inner battles" he fought, Sam possessed a "huge amount going for him", the coroner observed. "All deaths of this nature are tragic," he stated. "What makes this one particularly awful is that it is foreseeable that, but for him ending his own life, he would have gone on to be a high achieving and eventually happy and fulfilled adult."
Events Leading to the Tragedy
Sam stepped in when a family member attempted to take their own life in October last year, the inquest was told. He expressed distress in December regarding the college closure during the festive period and voiced concerns about forming friendships at university.
Following the holiday break, the support worker flagged the matter with her colleagues and a decision was made to reassign Sam to a different, male, support worker. In early January, she discovered Reddit posts where he revealed he had developed feelings for her, which prompted the meeting with the vice-principal, after consulting with Sam's mother, Kirsten Coutts. She declined to comment following the inquest.
Senior college officials participated in the hearing remotely after a threat was directed at the organisation on Monday evening. Once the inquest wrapped up, Mr Job released a statement: "We remember Sam with great affection as a kind young man who had a positive impact on those who knew him. Our thoughts remain with Sam and his family and friends."
