Tragedy of Jason Gower - inquest hears how the Newquay man had "everything to live for"

A 39-YEAR-OLD driving instructor described as having "everything to live for" was found hanged in his Newquay home, an inquest has heard.

The body of Jason Gower was found by his fiancée, Dee Lawson, in the kitchen of their house in Pendragon Crescent just after 8am on March 22 last year, Truro Coroner's Court was told.

Miss Lawson, a community nurse, said she had just woken up to a message from a neighbour complaining that the couple's two dogs were barking, and asking her to "shut them up".

Family members of Mr Gower, who was originally from Sheffield, remain baffled over his death, which they said was "completely out of character".

Miss Lawson told the inquest how she had fallen asleep alone on the bed the night before his death. When Mr Gower joined her later on he asked: "Can you move over?" to which she replied: "No."

"He went, 'Fine', then gave me a big hug," said Miss Lawson. "He said, 'I love you lots; have the bed to yourself'; then he went downstairs. That was the last time I saw him."

Miss Lawson, who split with her former partner to be with Mr Gower, described him as "needy and possessive", but said there was nothing to indicate that he was contemplating suicide. "I cannot think why he did this," she said. "He was not depressed. Jason had everything to live for. We were engaged to be married and were planning a family."

She said that Mr Gower had "doted" on her two children from a previous relationship and had been "torn apart" after his former wife had left the country with his daughter. "His death was a tremendous shock. Jason appeared very normal: very, very happy. There wasn't a day he didn't hug me, kiss me. It was too good to be true, really. There's no rhyme or reason to it."

The inquest heard how police had attempted to sift through data on his password-protected iPhone but officers were only able to access limited information. DC Melanie Rimes, who led the investigation into Mr Gower's death, said there was nothing at all which could help to identify why he would want to take his own life.

"It was unusual. There were no clues about what he intended to do," she said.

A report from Dr Tamsyn Anderson of Newquay Health Centre said that Mr Gower had been prescribed medication for a persistent hip complaint, and was advised he would have to learn to live with the long-term pain, but, she added, Mr Gower had not appeared to take the news badly.

"He did not seem depressed and maintained good conversation throughout the consultation," she said.

Coroner Barrie van den Berg recorded an open verdict. He said: "The circumstances about what happened to Jason will probably never be known. He had a good life and a future. You all loved him very much and it's a shock and a tragedy to all of you. He had a lot to live for."