A "kind and caring" 23-year-old rugby player took his own life in a village play area after struggling with depression, a court has heard.

Nathan Gooney's body was found in the play park behind the George and Dragon pub, in Thurton, on April 5.

An inquest heard that Mr Gooney, from Loddon, had played schoolboy rugby to a "high standard" and "achieved many honours" with Newark RFC.

He moved to Norfolk from Nottinghamshire in 2018 and joined Beccles Rugby Club where he made many friends.

The inquest, held by coroner Samantha Goward at Norfolk Coroner's Court, heard that when he moved to the area he began working as a bricklayer, but this was where his mental health struggles developed.Nathan Gooney Nathan Gooney (Image: Supplied)

The 23-year-old had made two previous suicide attempts and was considered "high-risk".

As a coping mechanism, he started using alcohol and cocaine regularly.

He had been adopted at the age of six months and his adoptive father, Chris, told the inquest that on the evening before his son's death he "knew something was wrong" when Nathan told him that he loved him before going to bed.

His father added that he felt his son had "had enough".

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When Chris woke up in the morning and saw that the shed door was open he knew something was wrong.Nathan Gooney Nathan Gooney (Image: Supplied)

Mrs Goward reached a conclusion of suicide.

 

'HE HAD SO MUCH TO LIVE FOR'

A statement written by his father Chris was read in court.

It said: "It is really sad as Nathan had so much to live for.

"He was a good-looking young man with a lovely personality.

"He was loving and caring and didn't realise how much people loved and cared for him, as was demonstrated at his funeral.

"He will always live in our hearts and we will never stop thinking about and loving him."

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Nathan Gooney's funeral was held at Waveney Memorial Park & Crematorium in Ellough and a reception took place afterwards at the George and the Dragon Pub in Thurton.

A fundraiser was launched following his death which raised nearly £2,000 for the LooseHeadz Foundation.

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