A former Ukip candidate sent a tragic email to police – telling officers to “please send someone to pick up my body” – as he took his own life, an inquest heard.
Kalvin Paul Chapman had taken a fatal overdose of a sedative he bought while on holiday in Mexico when he wrote to the force: “It will probably kill me in 20 minutes.”
The 43-year-old solicitor and former Ukip parliamentary candidate in Greater Manchester added: “My flat door is unlocked. Much appreciated.”
The inquest earlier was told Mr Chapman had suffered various health problems and battled depression, the Manchester Evening News reports.
A coroner concluded Mr Chapman took his own life after deliberately taking an overdose of a drug.
(Image: KalvinChapman/Twitter)
In his email to Greater Manchester Police at 8.40pm on April 20 last year, Mr Chapman wrote: “I have taken a fatal overdose, it will probably kill me in 20 minutes.
“Can you please send someone to pick up my body. “
The solicitor, who specialised in commercial litigation banking law, added: “My flat door is unlocked. Much appeciated.”
Manchester Coroners’ Court was told police arrived at Mr Chapman’s flat in Ancoats, Manchester, just before 9.30pm.
Officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived, and he was pronounced dead at 10.30pm.
Mr Chapman, who twice stood as a parliamentary candidate for Ukip and campaigned for Brexit, wrote two suicide notes – one to police and one to the coroner, the court heard.
(Image: KalvinChapman/Twitter)
The notes “clearly expressed his intention to take his own life” and disclosed that he had purchased the drug, which is not prescribed or used in the UK, during a holiday in Mexico, said police coroners’ officer Benjamin Dobbs.
Mr Chapman had fatal levels of a sedative in his system and a small amount of another drug and alcohol, according to a post-mortem and toxicology report.
The cause of death was drug toxicity.
Mr Chapman, who was born Christopher Robin Greenley in Hull in 1974 and was also known as Christopher Reeve before changing his name, had been diagnosed with a tumour behind his eye before his death.
He had a number of health issues, including a heart problem that led to a pacemaker being fitted in 1996, deep vein thrombosis and chronic pain in his lower back.
In July 2017, he had posted a video on social media saying he was going to kill himself, the inquest heard.
When Mr Chapman was visited by officers, he told them that he could not remember posting the video.
He had been drinking heavily when he was visited and found safe and well by the officers, the court heard.
Assistant coroner Jean Harkin recorded a conclusion of suicide.
She said: “It is clear Mr Chapman was in a lot of pain and had a lot of medical conditions and also mental health issues in the form of the depressions he was being treated for.
“However, it can also be seen he was a well-respected man and his colleague has told us not only does she think that but also the party he campaigned for.”
Anita Arbar, a friend and party colleague, told the hearing “something was bothering” Mr Chapman but he “seemed happy” and there was no indication he would hurt himself.
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She said his death left his family, friends and Ukip colleagues “devastated”.
On the day of his death, Mr Chapman wrote a number of tweets about love, saying “no one has ever loved me”.
He wrote: “In my life, I loved too much. Sadly, that was never reciprocated by anyone. I fell in love with a fair few people. Not one person has ever fallen in love with me. No one has ever loved me, and that has pained me every day. All I ever wanted was for someone to love me.
“Love was always the most important thing in my life. It was always the most powerful force in my life. No one ever loved me, and that has been the biggest regret of my life. I was totally in love with about 5 people throughout my life. Not one loved me back.
“Goodnight and fond farewell. It’s been fun.”
Mr Chapman stood as a parliamentary candidate in Stretford and Urmston in 2015, and Manchester Central in 2017.
Two days after Mr Chapman’s death last year, Ukip leader Gerard Batten tweeted a tribute, writing: “I am very sad to hear this morning of the death of Kalvin Chapman, a loyal and committed Ukip member, branch officer, and candidate.
“He will be missed by us all. Our commiserations and sympathies go out to his family and friends. Rest in peace.”
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