killed himself because he thought both girls were
upset with him, an inquest has heard. William Davis,
16, who was known as Charlie, jumped in front
of a train after an argument over his Facebook relationship
status.
The popular student and keen Scout had fallen out with his
girlfriend after he changed the status on his online profile
because a second girl had threatened to harm herself if he did
not go out with her.
The inquest heard Charlie had confided in another female
friend that he was worried about the situation with the two
girls, who cannot be named for legal reasons, and was
concerned he had 'mucked everything up' with his girlfriend.
Coroner Edward Thomas said: 'The evening before he had
been in discussion with a close friend. They had a
conversation about relationship difficulties.
'Somebody wanted to go out with him and if he wasn't
going to go out with her, she would harm herself.
'Charlie changed his status on Facebook, somebody saw it
and told somebody else. Somebody told his girlfriend and she
wasn't very happy.'
The coroner said Charlie had exchanged a 'flurry' of text
messages with his girlfriend
The next day he had told a friend he was feeling 'the same as
last night', the inquest in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, heard.
He went to class at Hertfield Regional College, in Ware,
where he was studying engineering, but told a teacher he had
not been sleeping well and could not concentrate.
Because he was a good student, he was excused and allowed
return to his home in Winchmore Hill, north London.
At home he saw his mother and brother, but told them at
around 1pm that he was going back to college.
But at 2.10pm he jumped in front of a train at Cheshunt
station, in Hertfordshire.
Witness Joshua Rumball told the inquest he had seen Charlie
and that he did not appear to stumble.
The train driver said he was only aware of a shape in the
corner of his field of vision at the last moment and then heard
the impact.
A post mortem examination revealed that Charlie had died as
a result of multiple injuries.
An investigation, led by British Transport Police on behalf of
the Hertfordshire coroner, found the teenager had been upset
at the time of his death.
Mr Thomas said he believed Charlie's decision to jump in
front of the train had been almost instantaneous.
'He obviously felt very troubled by having let somebody down
and in a way it shows his compassion and care,' he said.
'He was such a nice young man. He cared. He's young and
things happen and he's not yet emotionally adult enough to
handle the situation.'
He added: 'Sadly young people, when things are upsetting or
something's not going quite right, sometimes feel 'That's it',
and it isn't, because the next day you can move on.'
Praising the student, who had hoped to go on to university,
he said: 'He had a great interest in things and was very keen
at Cadets. He was clearly much-loved and well thought of by
many people.
'That comes across from all the interests and activities. He
was a lovely young man and this is why this is so tragic.'
Charlie's father Anthony said: 'I feel it is one of those things, a
moment of madness which occurred at the wrong time, at
the wrong place.
'My wife and I have gone through turmoil trying to
understand. We have lost a beautiful young boy.'
Charlie's Scout group, the 5th Southgate Scouts, have set up a
memorial fund in his name to help children get involved with
Scouting activities.
In a statement, the group said: 'Charlie very much loved
Scouts and was rarely happier than when he was away
camping or taking part in activities.'
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