A CHARITY fundraiser from Basingstoke described as 'loving and compassionate' took his life after struggling to come to terms with the death of his baby daughter, an inquest heard.

Lee Ocean was found dead at his home in Tenzing Gardens, Popley, on Friday, January 10, 2020.

Winchester Coroner's Court was told how the 39-year-old loved working with people and “longed to be a dad”, but had a history of depression and self-harm which was exacerbated by the loss of his daughter Imogen who was born stillborn in 2013.

Lee’s sister, Kelly Lincoln, told the inquest: “Lee was a really loving and compassionate person. He desperately cared his family and friends. He most of all in this world longed to be a dad.”

“Lee adored the idea of being a father and that was stolen from him, and his partner at the time, and it really did break his heart,” said Kelly.

“After his daughter’s death, the grief dragged up some underlying vulnerability to mental ill-health. It was the catalyst.”

Having suffered abuse as a young child, Lee had a long history of depressive episodes and self-harm, beginning in his teenage years, and was diagnosed with severe depressive episodes.

Over the years he was hospitalised on numerous occasions and spoke to his family and psychiatrists about hearing voices in his head which persuaded him that he should be “punished”.

“It was June 2017 when the seriousness of what was happening to him became clear. Lee lived in crisis for almost two and a half years,” Kelly said.

“I talked to him all the time. We are a close family. In fact, I lived with him for a chunk of that time.”

Despite illness, Lee was an extremely giving person who devoted much of his life to helping others.

“At Lee’s best he was a lovely, funny, life and soul of the party,” said Kelly.

“He spent many years working in environments where he got to work will people and make them smile.”

Lee worked for 10 years at Tech Data in Basingstoke, followed by roles at charities Sebastian's Action Trust and Basingstoke Disability Forum.

He enjoyed training colleagues and offering opportunities particularly for young people facing hardship.

“He made their lives fun, for people taking their first step on the career ladder. He had a strong work ethic and was a good manager,” said Kelly.

“He loved working with the young children. What Lee wanted to do was give back.

“He wasn’t afraid to be the odd one out and do crazy things. When he was on his best form, he would take the lead happily.”

Lee worked up until five days before he died, running quizzes and a children’s sporting event for the forum’s young members.

Kelly said: “Lee was committed to making a difference, to improving children’s lives. However horrible and hard his illness was, he was an extremely caring person.”

In 2015, Lee ran a number of marathons to raise money for SANS and Tommy’s, in memory of his daughter.

Kelly said: “Despite Lee’s suffering, right to the end he didn’t want other people to suffer. We have to hold onto that legacy.

“There are a lot of NHS resources that helped Lee. Sadly, I don’t think they are enough. There are many people who need that resource and it’s increasing. Lee’s legacy would be to help people get well and to find support for people who need it. And so that is what his family are going to try and do, and stay committed to, in his honour.”

The court heard that the police officer who attended the house on the day of his death reported that there were “no suspicious circumstances.”

Lee left a number of notes in the property, including messages to friends and family describing “unbearable pain” and that he was “truly sorry”, as well as details of how his assets should be used.

Area coroner Jason Pegg described Lee as a “selfless man” who “in his mind felt pain was something he was required to have.”

He added: “In this case, the appropriate conclusion is one of suicide. I am satisfied that Lee took his own life, and that he intended to do so.

“It is very sad that someone who clearly was loving, compassionate, selfless and a very caring man did what he chose to do.”

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