James Forryan · Prevention of Future Deaths report

On the 8th November, 2021 Assistant Coroner Sarah Bourke began an investigation into the death of James Forryan who died aged 29, on the 29th October, 2021 at the Novotel Hotel, 40 Marsh Wall, London E14.

The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 15th March, 2022 conducted by myself, Assistant Coroner Edwin Buckett.

I made a determination at inquest that the deceased died as a result of suicide which was caused by him deliberately taking a poisonous quantity of pentobarbital medication.

James Forryan was a young man with a mild history of depression and anxiety.

On the 28th October 2021 he checked into a hotel in London and took at least ████████ the fatal dose of pentobarbital medication which caused his death on the 29th October 2021 whilst staying at that hotel.

The post-mortem and toxicology evidence revealed that his death was caused by a pentobarbital overdose.

Evidence was given that:

1. James had accessed a forum on the internet known to promote suicide. That website and the forum discussions attached to it provided advice and guidance on:

(i) Appropriate drugs/medication which would produce a terminal result;
(ii) Which drugs were most effective;
(iii) How they should be taken;
(iv) How they could be purchased;.
(v) End of life planning.

2. James was careful and methodical in the actions he took to end his life. He appeared to follow some guidance on the steps to take from a “handbook” which the family believe was generated from a suicide promoting website and his decision to acquire the pentobarbital medication was informed by the that website.
3. The suicide promoting website appeared to act as a trigger in his decision to take his own life.

I am concerned that:

(a) There are websites and forums which openly promote and advertise methods of suicide which are easily accessible;

(b) Suicide is the largest cause of death for individuals in the UK under the age of 35 and James Forryan is within that age bracket;

(c) There does not appear to be sufficient regulation or enforcement action against such websites which promote criminal offences and/or harmful content.