Grieving dad Phil Davenport has spoken of his devastation after his son took his own life ‘out of the blue’.

Phil, from Hartshill , said there were no signs that 24-year-old Chad Kangkorn-Davenport was depressed prior to his death. The keen musician had not shared his low feelings with anyone.

A year on from his death, Phil decided he wanted to hold an event for the Samaritans to raise money and awareness in Chad’s memory.

The 64-year-old said: “Chad was a lovely lad, always happy, always laughing. He was very respectful and he would help anybody. He was a brilliant drummer and very much into his music.

“He didn’t show any signs before he died. When I found out, I just collapsed. I saw him two weeks before and he was happy. I would never have known, it was out of the blue.

“There were no drugs or alcohol in his body. He must have been in a very dark place.”

Phil Davenport with family and friends who helped with the event
Phil Davenport with family and friends who helped with the event

Chad died in Cannock, where he had been living for the past few years, on May 8 last year. He worked as a bricklayer, often alongside Phil, and played in a band called Hey Brooklyn.

Phil said: “The last 12 months have been devastating. There’s not a day goes by when I don’t think about him.

“I’ve got my own little tribute to him in my living room. I just kept memories of him.

"I wanted to hold the event for the Samaritans because people are suffering in silence. It should be more in the public eye that people are going through this.”

The fundraiser took place on Saturday at the Marquis of Granby, in Penkhull . It featured several performers, a barbecue, tombola and raffle, with all funds raised going to the local branch of the charity.

The final amount raised on the day has yet to be revealed.

Chad took his own life at the age of 24
Chad took his own life at the age of 24

Chad’s brother Jack Kangkorn-Davenport was among those supporting the event. The 22-year-old, from Cannock, said: “We had always been really close, we never fought or anything. He was a lovely guy. He was so hard-working.

“The month before he died, we had been to Thailand together. There were no signs, nobody had any idea how he was feeling, not even his best friend.

“We spent so much time together that I feel lonely sometimes. I miss him a lot.”

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Nationally, the Samaritans respond to a call for help every six seconds. Earlier this year, the charity launched a campaign to encourage men to seek help when they are struggling to cope.

Alice Jones, a volunteer at the Stoke and Newcastle branch, went along to support Phil’s event.

She said: “It’s so important we have our service in place to help people who are in distress or despair, and we are self-funded so rely on donations. It was important for us to be here to show our support.”

If you are experiencing mental health problems, feeling suicidal, or are concerned about someone else, support is available. Speak with your GP, who can refer into appropriate local services, contact the Staffordshire Mental Health Helpline on 0808 800 2234 for out-of-hours support, or call the Samaritans on 116 123 for a listening ear 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

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