Jordan Moseley, pictured here in his Accrington Stanley kit, accidentally hanged himself during a choking experiment, an inquest heard
A teenage footballer accidentally hanged himself during a choking experiment which police feared might have been inspired by an infamous social networking craze linked to the suicides of up to 130 children, an inquest heard.
Jordan Moseley, 15, who was signed to League two club Accrington Stanley Football Club was found in his bedroom by his father Gary who had just attended his Year 11 parent’s evening.
An inquest heard detectives investigated a link between Jordan’s death on October 17 last year and the notorious Blue Whale Game after being told the teenager may have been live streaming the tragedy through his mobile phone.
Officers seized his iPhone and iPad but found nothing to suggest he was on the internet at the time of his death – although they discovered his friends were aware of the Blue Whale Game.
The ‘game’ reportedly consists of a series of tasks assigned to players by administrators over a 50-day period, with the final challenge requiring the player to commit suicide. In 2016 a controversial news report linked many unrelated child suicides to membership of group ‘F57’ on the Russian-based VKontakte social network.
Jordan, pictured here with his father Gary, was described as a ‘very happy, bubbly, healthy child’ who ‘had everything to live for’
An inquest heard detectives investigated a link between Jordan’s death on October 17 last year and the notorious Blue Whale Game. Pictured: Jordan’s funeral
Today the hearing was told Jordan, from Middleton, Greater Manchester had been a ‘very happy, bubbly, healthy child’ who ‘had everything to live for’ and played football for three teams in Oldham sides before signing to Accrington Stanley’s Academy squad in 2015 where he was coached by former Manchester City player Willie Donachie.
He was a pupil at the independent Rishworth School, in Sowerby Bridge, West Yorks, and was in his GCSE year.
Teacher Jessica Sheldrick, said: ‘Jordan lived for football and was looking forward to a successful career having already got a deal with Accrington Stanley Football Club.
‘He was liked by most if not all. On October 17 he was seen completing last minute homework and attended registration in the morning and afternoon and all lessons that day. Jordan was playing football with friends at lunch and popped into the library with three friends and completed a piece of homework.
‘All 12 staff described him as jovial, his usual self, fine, pleased with his recent progress, joking, working harder and making good progress.
‘Two staff members spoke about parent’s evening, they were pleased with progress since starting Year 11. Feedback given to parents was positive as Jordan had been working much harder. Jordan said he was not attending because he was playing football.
Police later ruled out the possibility Jordan had live-streamed his death. Pictured: Mourners at Jordan’s funeral
Promising footballer Jordan was destined for a career in the game before his death and many mourners turned up to his funeral in soccer strips
‘He was speaking positively about upcoming events, the football game on October 18, the prom. He was completing homework and talking about his final project for DT. ‘The future’s bright, the future’s Jordan’ was his chosen strap line for his project. He was not presenting in any way depressed or suicidal.’
Det Ch Insp Gary McIntyre, told the Heywood inquest: ‘I attended the house and the family were extraordinarily distressed – it was clearly an extremely distressing situation. My initial concerns were to ensure whether there had been any third party involvement.
‘There was a suggestion his phone was near by and being used as some sort of live streaming and the suggestion appears to have come from Jordan’s father. His father described that the phone was on the cabinet quite close to the door and quite high up. The suggestion was that the phone was positioned there facing the doorway, in the line of the doorway.
‘I instructed the officers to seize the phone and also the iPad which was in Jordan’s bedroom.’
He added: ‘Parent’s evening finished at 7.15pm and the father rang Jordan’s mobile on the way back – but there was no answer. He didn’t find that was abnormal but when he got home, he walked upstairs and saw Jordan.’
Det Insp Joanne Reid, said: ‘Jordan came across as a very happy, bubbly, healthy child who had everything to live for. He had a successful football career ahead of him. From speaking to friends he came across as a bit of a joker, a bit of a class clown but probably one of the most popular children in school.
‘He was highly regarded for his football ability at Accrington Stanley. He was a popular, talented, normal 15 year old boy. They said how bubbly, happy and funny he was and was popular with other players.
‘Nobody raised any concerns they had about Jordan in relation to that time. There was nothing worrying them about Jordan, he was just normal, happy Jordan.
Hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their respects at Jordan’s funeral. His coffin was carried into the church to the Manchester City anthem Blue Moon
A coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death. An inquest heard his was the result of an experiment gone wrong
‘I did speak to Gary Moseley and he took me to Jordan’s bedroom to described what he found. We were concerned because it was an unusual set of circumstances for a young person. I was also aware about whether this was an act being live streamed. The phone was submitted for forensic examination and within 48 hours we had results.
‘There was nothing to suggest that had taken place. There was activity on the phone but nothing to say he was connected to the internet and live streaming. He had some text conversations with friends – but there was nothing unusual. There was nothing to suggest he had spoken to anyone on the phone in that two hour period.
‘There was a message sent by another young person, two school friends who were joking around and sent the same message to a number of students. Jordan had not responded to it. It was young persons banter.
‘There was a conversation with two friends where they said some months before Jordan said ‘I tried to drown myself last night’, he just blurted it out. They seemed to think it was around three months before his death. Neither took it seriously, they were just laughing and joking about it saying how silly he was.
‘Nobody raised any concerns. There was no evidence found on his phone of any messages he sent that were worrying or concerning. There was nothing to suggest he had done it previously. He was expecting his parents back at 7.30pm. I was hopeful the devices might show he had researched something before but there was no evidence.
Jordan’s parents did not attend the inquest but in an earlier statement Mr Moseley said: ‘He was the best son you could ever have had’
‘I checked whether he might have been playing a game or whether this is was something a group of people were involved in. The children were aware of Blue Whale after his death.’
Recording a conclusion of accidental death, coroner Joanne Kearsley, said: ‘I think all of us in court would offer our condolences to his parents and to Jordan’s family for what must have been and is an extraordinarily difficult time.
‘Everything shows a young man, a 15-year-old boy, a talented footballer who did have his whole life ahead of him. There was no evidence that this was a young man having difficulties and no evidence the actions were in any way intentional.
‘I’m entirely satisfied that Jordan’s death is a result of an accidental death. I think this was a young man who was experimenting and tragically these actions have led to his death. There is absolutely no evidence that this was intentional.’
Jordan’s parents did not attend the inquest. In a statement at the time of the boy’s death Mr Moseley said: ‘He was the best son you could ever have had. We spent every minute of every day together. I never missed any of his training sessions. He used to say to me ‘you don’t have to be here dad’ but I always was, in the rain, and cold. It didn’t matter. I’m lost without him.’
Former Manchester City and Burnley player Joey Barton also paid tribute on Twitter saying: ‘Heart breaking news about young Jordan Moseley. My thoughts are with all his friends and family at this time.’
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