A MOTHER has spoken of her devastation after finding her son hanged following a family night in.

Corey Shields was just 20 when his body was discovered at his home in Luton Street, Bolton, on September 9 of last year.

The student mechanic had spent the previous evening with family, but was found hanged in the bedroom he shared with his brother in the early hours of the following morning.

At an inquest into his death at Bolton Coroners Court on Thursday, Corey’s mother, Janine Mort, said she was unable to ‘comprehend’ her son’s death.

She added: “Corey was a lovely, fun-loving, and happy young man. He was always playing jokes and him and Callum were the best of buddies.

“He loved his family. He used to tease his sister, but he would not let anyone hurt her.

“Corey’s death has devastated each and every one of us, and he will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“Corey has given us wonderful memories, which we will treasure forever.

“I cannot understand why he ended his life. It is something I will never be able to comprehend.

“Our nice family night in ended as the worst night of our lives.”

The inquest heard that on the evening before his death, Corey had drank three vodka cokes and family members described him as being ‘chatty’.

After others went upstairs to bed, Corey was left downstairs with his brother Callum.

Callum told the hearing that his brother appeared to be his normal self as they chatted and watched television.

When Corey went upstairs at about 12.30am, he left his brother asleep on the sofa.

On his way up to bed, he called into his sister’s bedroom to tease her, but she gave him ‘short shrift’ as she was going to sleep.

The night took a tragic turn when, shortly before 4am, Ms Mort woke up to visit the bathroom, and realised her son’s bedroom light was still on. She opened the door and found him dead.

The court heard that Mr Shields had only recently passed his college exams and was looking for work as a mechanic.

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Ms Mort said that her son had had a happy childhood, and she did not believe him to be suffering any issues with his mental health.

Pathologist Patrick Waugh told the inquest that Mr Shields had died from ‘hanging’.

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Recording a narrative conclusion, coroner Sarah Watson said: “Corey Shields died as a consequence of self-suspension by ligature in circumstances where his intention at the time are unclear.”

She added: “Corey had a good evening with his family. Alcohol had been consumed but there was no evidence he was in any way down or in any way distressed. As far as I am aware, he was behaving normally.”