A night-shift worker tragically took his own life after suffering insomnia when he was moved to a day job, an inquest has heard.
Marc Yeoman, 45, would usually sleep in the day then meet his girlfriend in the afternoon before starting work late in the evening.
But after getting a job at a B&Q warehouse, Mr Yeoman was given an early shift which meant he had to get up at 5.30am.
He later complained he was getting less than an hour of sleep each day before he was found dead at his home in Fallowfield, near Manchester, last July.
Marc Yeoman tragically took his own life after struggling to get a good night’s sleep when he moved from a night-shift to an early morning shift
A coroner was told he had sent a text to his girlfriend Kate Tyler saying: ‘xxx’ before taking an overdose.
The inquest heard Mr Yeoman had previously enjoyed hill walking with Miss Tyler but after changing his shifts the pair did not see each other for weeks.
Miss Tyler said: ‘We were in a relationship for a year. We spent a lot of time together. He was a livewire, always loving life. He was kind, funny and a genuinely lovely person.
‘He had no significant mental health issues, and the only health problem he had was with his knee. We would go hill walking and climbing together. He would always complain about pain in his knees after a long day in the mountains.
‘He never came home to say he was suffering with mental health issues or depression. He did complain about his employment. I didn’t see him for four weeks before he passed away.
‘He worked on the building yard at B&Q and had asked for a change of shift. Before he would come to mine in the afternoon and be back at his house to start his evening shift. However he changed shifts and began working in the warehouse.’
A coroner heard Mr Yeoman had not seen his girlfriend Kate Tyler in the week’s before his death due to his shift change
Miss Tyler added: ‘I think because he was the ‘new boy’ he was given early shifts and would have to get up at 5.30am. It was really difficult for him. The last four weeks we didn’t see each other. It was very upsetting for us both.
‘We would keep in touch by texting, and every night we would say good night.’
Mr Yeoman booked an appointment at his local GP surgery two days before his death on July 12 last year and in a tearful plea explained he had been struggling to cope with his job for the past three months.
A coroner ruled his death was suicide after hearing he had visited a doctor to complain of depression and insomnia
He was prescribed sleeping tablets and anti-depressants in a bid to improve his mood and help his insomnia.
Miss Tyler added: ‘On July 10, I knew things were a bit different. He told me he had been to the doctors and they had given him some sleeping tablets, but they weren’t working. He just wanted to get a good nights sleep.
‘His old boss would have given him his job back and we did speak about it but I don’t think he acted on it. His insomnia was terrible.’
Ruling a conclusion of suicide, Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin said: ‘He was loved his sports, he had a good relationship with his partner and his friends and he had an excellent family support network, and those who have come today should remember that always.
‘I have to be satisfied that beyond reasonable doubt, one intends to take their own life. In this case, Marc took the drugs and drank the alcohol, and the burden of proof allows me to accept this was intentional.
‘I would like to offer my sincerest condolences to his family, his partner and his friends.’
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