The family of a young man who killed himself in hospital after a long battle with mental health problems have spoken of their devastation and described him as the kindest, fairest and gentlest person who ever lived.

Michael McDonald, 28, died in ward three at Tooting’s Springfield Hospital, on March 11, this year.

At the inquest into his death, on Wednesday, September 3, Westminster Coroner Dr William Dolman gave the medical cause of death as asphyxia and recorded a conclusion of suicide on the balance of his mind being disturbed.

Mr McDonald lived all his life in Wallington with his parents, Lesley and Colin, and sister Sally.

The former Bandon Hill Primary School student studied at Wilsons School and went on to spend three years at Southampton University, where he studied psychology.

The statement from his family said: “His ambition was to be a child psychologist because, he said, he wanted to help people before it was too late for them. Sadly, he was never to achieve this.

Your Local Guardian: Springfield University Hospital in Tooting

Springfield Hospital in Tooting 

“The last 10 years of his life were sometimes happy and fulfilling, but mostly overshadowed by physical illness, which took a dramatic turn for the worse on July 1, 2013, when the mental illness which ultimately resulted in his death, began.

“On the March 11, 2014, exactly six months ago, our lives stopped. We received the devastating news that our wonderful Michael was dead. There are no words to express the emotions we have had to live with since then.

“Mental health professionals are not always right, and we believe that mistakes were made. But, Michael would not have wanted anyone else to suffer in any way because of his death, and we will respect this.

“Michael did not want to end his life, he wanted to end his pain and suffering. He truly believed that there was no help available to him.

“Will our lives ever start again? Maybe, but never in the way we would want. We have to spend the rest of our lives without the kindest, fairest, gentlest person who ever lived. We will love him and miss him forever.”

Mr McDonald is buried at Bandon Hill Cemetery, in Wallington.

If you are having suicidal thoughts and feelings and want to talk, you can telephone Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org or find a local branch at samaritans.org.