A heartbroken horse trainer hanged herself after her son drowned in a tragic seaside suicide, an inquest has heard.
Faith Done, 55, was gripped with grief following the death of Alastair, 26, and had been struggling to cope.
Overwhelmed with devastation she even told her husband Nick they should take an overdose of pills to be ‘reunited’ with their departed child, and would often talk about killing herself.
But Nick never believed she would go through with her threats – until he found her dead in the hallway of her Cheshire home last May.
She had left various possessions on her bed for her family including books and clothes plus notes to Alastair and the couple’s eldest son Andrew, 29.
Faith Done, 55, (left) hanged herself after she was left heartbroken by the suicide of her son Alastair, 26, (right) who drowned during a one-way trip to a seaside beauty spot, an inquest heard
Nick Done died in a car crash last month, after his son Alastair and wife Faith both committed suicide
Nick, 53, later gave a statement to police about his wife’s death but in a tragic twist of fate he was himself killed in a car crash last month whilst on his way to work.
An inquest into his death is due to be held later.
The Warrington hearing was told the series of family tragedies began on January 4 this year when Alastair who worked in polo yards disappeared after buying a one way rail ticket to the Scottish coast.
He sent his mother a text message saying: ‘I’m gone, no-one contact me’ and a major police search began.
His body was found washed up on Balmedie Beach in Aberdeen on January 20 after his belongings including his rucksack were found in the sand.
Alastair had previously self-harmed and at the time of his death his mother accepted he had taken his own life saying: ‘He was bright enough to know what he was doing but obviously we are all devastated.
‘Alastair always loved his horses and working with his brother. He also went to Ireland and worked in some fantastic polo yards as well as doing well in the showing world. He didn’t know how loved he was by all his horsey friends.’
In a statement read to the Warrington hearing, Nick, a farmer’s labourer said: ‘Faith had always drank alcohol but when Alastair died she started drinking a lot more.
Mrs Done, who organised horse shows and trained animals at her stables in Malpas, Cheshire was found dead in her hallway by her husband Nick as he returned home from work
‘Before he passed away she was normally a happy person bis death hit us all hard especially Faith.
‘She mentioned on numerous occasions that she was going to hang herself but I never believed she would.
‘She refused all help and stated she didn’t need it and put on a brave face.
‘The month before she passed away we had a conversation about taking a lot of pills and going to sleep together due to Alastair taking his own life and she said she wanted to be with him.
‘I didn’t see much of her in the week leading up to her death as she was out most nights but when I did she seemed very low and quiet, and she didn’t speak much to me.
‘Prior to leaving the house for work I checked up on Faith and she was in bed with some of her head hanging off it. I tucked her in and made sure she was comfortable. I left the house and returned to the home address at approximately 7.30pm.
Before her death, Faith Done (pictured) told her husband Nick they should take an overdose of pills together to be ‘reunited’ with Alastair
‘I hadn’t heard from Faith all day but that was quite normal for us. Then I walked in through the front door and then that’s when I saw Faith had passed away.’
In a statement mental health nurse Christina Bromfield, said: ‘Faith was seen in February 17 and whilst she had been consuming alcohol, she didn’t consider this as having a detrimental effect upon her.
‘She denied experiencing problems of mental health although she described how she had lost her son who had taken his own life.
‘She was feeling numb and had not started to come to terms with this – but she denied any plans or intent to harm herself.
‘She was offered a referral to her GP but declined this offer although she did accept support information about bereavement from a suicide support group.’
A report by Mrs Done’s GP, Dr Nick Dixon said: ‘Mrs Done didn’t attend very often and only met her in person on October 2010.
‘I did have contact with her by telephone on May 13, 2019 explained she would like to book an appointment with me as she had not been coping well and drinking alcohol heavily.
‘Mrs Done told me her son had previously committed suicide and she felt she had not been dealing with this well. She kept thinking about her sons funeral and the song played during the service.
‘I offered her an appointment the same afternoon but she advised me she had to muck out the cows as she was keeping busy and several people where relying on her.
Alastair Done (pictured as a child) was a professional horseman. His body was found washed up on Balmedie Beach in Aberdeen on January 20 after his belongings including his rucksack were found in the sand
‘I offered an appointment the following day with someone else but she preferred to see me on May 15. The appointment was booked but Mrs Done cancelled the appointment and sadly I was made aware of her death on May 24, 2019.’
Det Sgt Simon Owen of Cheshire Police said: ‘There were numerous possessions laid on her bed and notes saying clothes for everyone and an envelope on the bed for Andrew and Robert. In the ground floor room were several personal papers laid out on the side, personal effects had been put in order and a card addressed to Nick and Andrew.’
Recording a conclusion of suicide Coroner Heath Westerman, said: ‘Faith Done was a horse show producer and the conclusion in the circumstances is one of suicide. I extend my sincere condolences to her remaining family and friends.’
Last month an inquest opned into the death of Mr Done snr who died instantly when his BMW Mini collided head-on with a Volkswagen Caddy on the A525 Whitchurch Road in Bangor-on-Dee at 5am on October 2. Another person was seriously injured after both vehicles caught fire on impact.
In a Facebook post Andrew a car salesman and bodybuilding champion who was a former winner at the Horse of the Year Showsaid: ‘Words can’t describe the way I feel right know, my heart is broken my world has been ripped from me. I love you Dad and I really hope there is a heaven where you can be with mum and Alastair.’