Teacher took his own life ‘after suffering crippling altitude sickness while on trekking holiday’

He had never suffered with mental health problems before climbing to around 3,000m.

A teacher took his own life after developing altitude sickness during a trekking trip to the Himalayas with his wife, an inquest has heard.

Paul Connell, 33, had climbed around 3,000 metres up the Annapurna range in Nepal when he started having panic attacks and developed anxiety.

His wife Lisa was so concerned she paid for him to be airlifted off the mountain.

After leaving the Himalayas his condition improved, and the couple moved onto India during their once-in-a-lifetime world travels.

But once there, he began suffering from insomnia and depression and eventually cut his trip short and flew to his home in Ramsgate, Kent, in February.

His mum rushed him straight to hospital, where he was prescribed with anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

Lisa flew back to the UK to care for him five days later and said he was like a ‘different person’.

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The couple went to Mr Connell’s sister’s house in Newcastle, Northern Ireland, in late February, in the hope a change of scenery would help.

‘We thought it would be good to come back here and relax and have some quiet time with my family,’ she said.

‘It was the first time my sister and her husband had seen him in a long time, and they couldn’t believe the change in him.

‘It was like a completely different person, Paul was really anxious.

‘His whole demeanour had a really nervous energy, an uncomfortable look. His eyes were kind of glassy.’

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Paul left Northern Ireland early, as a space had come for him to have counselling sessions in Ramsgate.

The pair continued to speak every day on the phone, while Mr Connell took his medication, saw his therapist and spent time with his parents.

‘He was seeing his counsellor once a week, he was doing everything,’ Mrs Connell said.

However, on March 26 he took his own life after making 21 attempts to call his GP which all failed to connect.

In his pocket, a note was found which read: ‘Voices in my head. I’m sorry. Love you all x.’

The inquest was told Paul had never suffered from mental health problems before hiking to the high altitude.

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Canterbury Coroner’s Court was told heard that although he had seen a counsellor the day before his death he was not recommended for further mental health tests from specialist services.

Despite his pleas to be admitted to a psychiatric treatment centre, there were no beds.

Coroner James Dillon ruled that Mr Connell had taken his own life.

Now Lisa has spoken out to warn others to watch out for the signs of mental health decline.

The 35-year-old said: ‘Paul was a really happy guy, he had a great life and he wasn’t suffering with depression or anxiety.

‘It was something that happened really fast, really intensely over such a short space of time. This can happen to anyone, it can happen to the strongest of people physically and mentally.

‘Someone can change, something can suddenly snap in someone’s head. You just never know.’