A talented Cambridge University maths student took his own life after “failing to cope” with his undiagnosed chronic pain, a research has found.
Alexander Horner, 23, died at Eastbourne in East Sussex on May 9 – one of six students who died by suicide or suspected suicide at the university this year.
An investigation revealed the Trinity College student had long-term abdominal pain.
His parents said: “The chronic and increasing physical pain was too much for him.”
In a statement, his parents told the inquest at Peterborough City Hall that their son was “hardworking” and had achieved the highest grades possible at school.
He also spoke Chinese and Japanese and enjoyed watching football and basketball, but they said he had “numerous medical issues that clearly led directly to what he eventually did.”
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The examination revealed that the pain was mainly abdominal pain and his parents said “everyday tasks we all take for granted … became constant tests every day”.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Medical Examiner Simon Milburn said: “He found various treatments and medications but despite these it is clear that none of the treatments have been able to formally diagnose or provide long-term relief from the physical pain he was suffering from .”
The inquirer was told Mr Horner, who hails from London, was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in 2019.
He had met with his college tutor on April 22, 2022, who was found to have “no issues,” and he had signed up for the degree.
On May 10, concerns were raised about Mr Horner, who had been missing for four days and who had discussed suicide methods with a friend.
The inquest revealed that he had died from a head injury.
Prof Sachiko Kusukawa of Trinity College said Mr Horner was “remembered as a talented student” and a “valued member of our community”.
Mr Milburn said Mr Horner was “no longer able to cope with his chronic pain” and concluded he died by suicide.
His death was the third of a Trinity College student in three years, two of which were suicides and one was a death from an anti-anxiety drug overdose.
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