A 'beautiful' bet365 worker lost £3,000 in a casino and then fell to his death from a bridge, an inquest has heard. Michael Heath, 24, died on July 29 after falling from a bridge over the A500 before being struck by an HGV.
No Outward Signs of Distress
The inquest heard that Mr Heath showed no outward signs of struggling with his mental health, though he had previously attempted suicide. The bet365 worker, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, attempted an overdose in January 2020 and was later diagnosed with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. However, he had made significant improvements and gave loved ones 'no cause for concern' shortly before his death.
Father's Account
His father told the inquest: 'Mike worked as an online customer service advisor for bet365. He worked night shifts, doing a week in the office and a week at home. There was nothing to suggest he was having issues with work. He would talk about how he received praise from customers.'
'But, prior to the collision, Mike had been on a period of sickness because he was feeling ill with flu-like symptoms. He took the week off and was due to return to work on July 28. I would say that he was feeling anxious about his return to work because he would have been under an absence warning. But he appeared okay. He presented as his usual self and there was nothing to cause me concern.'
For mental health support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, or visit samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
