Lil' Chris was found hanged at home after struggle with depression, inquest hears

Home Top

Joe Biden's son Beau dies aged 46 after battle with brain cancer: Vice President mourns 'the finest man any of us have ever known' in second tragedy of his life after wife and daughter died in 1973
Physically abused, told they would die at 12 and banned from school: 'Real-life Kimmy Schmidt' twins reveal what life was like inside controversial Children of God sect
'He doesn't eat pizza': Lawyer claims suspect accused of holding captive and murdering DC family is innocent and not 'capable of killing anybody'
Actors call for crackdown on producers who use the casting couch to demand sex and strip shows from actors desperate for roles
John Kerry is flown to hospital after French Alps bike crash which left him with a broken leg while on a break from meetings with Iran officials over nuclear deal
Not tonight Napoleon! New documentary claims it was Josephine who spurned him - and had affairs with 'less needy' lovers
UK Premier League soccer club launches investigation after players filmed themselves in orgy where they racially abused Thai women on end-of-season tour
My own brother destroyed Amy: He watched his big brother Blake pull Amy Winehouse into the squalid depths of heroin addiction. Harry Civil lifts the lid on toxic marriage that ripped his family apart
NSA's bulk collection of phone records is set to end today as Rand Paul vows to block reform of the Patriot Act
Muslim passenger on United Airlines flight 'told she can't have unopened Diet Coke in case she uses the can as a WEAPON'
Texas floods death toll rises to 31 as two more bodies are found and SNAKE bites soar - as thousands of the reptiles flee soaked ground for populated areas
Now Sepp Blatter 'to face Swiss prosecutors' over FIFA votes into 2018 and 2022 World Cups set for Russia and Qatar
How FIFA were nailed by last act of revenge of a dying man: Investigative journalist ANDREW JENNINGS reveals how former official led him and the Feds into the dirty depths of Blatter's kingdom of corruption
'It's a perfect match!' Hooters waitress donates kidney to regular customer
Controversial 'Are you beach body ready?' weight loss advert that provoked angry protests in London arrives in New York
Government paid $20.2 million in Social Security benefits to more than 130 ex-Nazis who went on to live comfortably in the U.S.
'There's going to be one killer blues session in heaven tonight': B.B. King's family come together to lay him to rest in moving funeral service with tribute from President Obama
At least four Americans are being held hostage in Yemen by rebels who toppled government
A little girl rescued from rubble and the dramatic picture that tells the tragedy of Syria: 72 die after Assad drops shrapnel-packed barrel bombs on civilian districts
Eyewitness to horror on the Eiger: I trained my telescope on the notorious 'Murder Wall'...was that a body I could see falling?
Galliano meets rabbi as part of rehab plan: Scheme is part of designer's treatment following drunken anti-Semitic rant
Rubbing shoulders with Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent to becoming Anna Wintour's arch rival: New book reveals an insider look at the life of a pre-Internet fashion editor
Super glam wife of UK Prime Minister David Cameron hits the beach in her bikini as she relaxes after the grueling election trail
Schoolgirl, 10, left in tears 'after her lunch was dumped in trash in front of classmates because her food account had run out'

Singer was found at home in Lowestoft on March 23 and pronounced dead
Friend AJ Sutton helped to identify the body, inquest into death was told
Pathologist who confirmed cause of death extended sympathies to family
Reality TV star had been struggling with depression and vowed to find cure

Published: 06:36 EST, 29 April 2015 | Updated: 12:03 EST, 29 April 2015

View
comments

Reality TV star and singer Lil' Chris who died last month was found hanging at his home by a friend, the inquest into his death has been told.

The 24-year-old pop star, whose real name was Chris Hardman, died on March 23 in his hometown of Lowestoft after a long battle with depression.

Suffolk coroner Peter Dean today told the inquest that Mr Hardman's that friend AJ Sutton later identified the body.

Scroll down for video

Suffolk coroner Peter Dean told an inquest into the death of signer Chris Hardman, aka Lil Chris (left and right), that a friend found his body hanged at his home in Lowestoft on March 23

He said that paramedics and police were called to his home in Union Road, Lowestoft, that morning and death was confirmed at 11.48am.

He added: 'He had been found at his home by a friend. Emergency services were called but attempts at resuscitation failed.'

In a previous statement Mr Hardman's family said he had been fighting a long battle with depression, and was determined to find a cure

Pathologist Richard Ball confirmed the cause of death as hanging.

Dr Dean said: 'I would like to offer my thoughts and condolences to the family, friends and all those close to him for their loss.'

Speaking soon after his death, Mr Hardman's family said he was 'a huge personality who will be missed by everyone who knew him'.

In a statement, they added: 'Chris had struggled with mental health issues and depression in recent years.

'He was committed to helping others find better ways of overcoming this illness and publicly said he wished to find a cure.

'Despite this, his concern was always his family and his friends, whose happiness was his priority.'

Mr Hardman shot to fame in Channel 4's Rock School after Kiss frontman Gene Simmons made him the lead singer of a student band.

He was later offered a solo deal and went on to have a top five hit with Checkin' It Out in 2006.

A previous statement by Mr Hardman's family described him as 'hugely creative', adding: 'If he wasn't bringing joy through music he was telling jokes or pulling pranks.

'He was the sunshine on a rainy day, and could make friends the minute he walked into a room, making everyone smile with his gorgeous, cheeky face.

'A real people person, he would always take the time to stop and talk, no matter who or when, and we are proud that he was so well thought of by all who knew him.

The last performance Lil' Chris shared on his YouTube page

Mr Hardman (pictured front) shot to fame after featuring on Kiss frontman Gene Simmons' show School of Rock, before landing a solo recording deal

Following news of Mr Hardman's death, Simmonds' posted this message of condolence, while McBusted singer Harry Judd described him as a 'little star

Lil' Chris at the 'Horton Hears a Who' Premiere in 2008

'So many commented on what a lovely, well brought up person he was, so polite and kind and a pleasure to know.'

Samaritans deputy chief executive Fiona Malcolm said: 'If anyone has been affected by this news, or is struggling to cope, we would like to let people know that Samaritans is here for them if they need to talk.'

The inquest was opened and then adjourned until July 28.

The Samaritans can be contacted by phone on 08457 909090, email jo@samaritans.org, or you can find the details of your local branch at www.samaritans.org.