Young actress Nikki Sam-Addae killed herself after death of her fiance

Mar 11 2010 By Emma Davison

When Luke lost his cancer battle in January 2009, Nikki focused her energy on finishing her university course and remarkably achieved a first-class degree.

She was even accepted by a London acting agent, but struggled to cope after her fiance’s death and was taking anti-depressants.

In July she took an overdose of her medication, but rang her brother after she had taken the tablets and the incident was seen as a cry for help.

On the morning of August 17 last year, Nikki told her family that she was going to the gym, but never returned.

A passer-by found her body in a wooded area near to her family’s home.

Pathologist Dr James Garvican concluded that Nikki died by hanging.

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict that Nikki took her own life.

He said: “Her boyfriend’s death clearly affected her extensively and it’s difficult to get over grief of that sort.

“She could only have had the intention of ending her life, in which she was all too sadly successful.

“But it’s clear that the balance of her mind was disturbed by the tragic death of her boyfriend and the long period she had been involved in his treatment with him.”

Nikki’s brother Justin, 34, said after her death: “Nikki was such a fun-loving person who went through life enjoying herself and giving 100% to everything she did.

“She was a fantastic, bubbly person who was always keen to help other people.

“But she just couldn’t cope living without Luke.”

Nikki leaves behind parents Sam and Kath, brothers Anthony and Justin and sisters Christine and Vanessa. She was also aunt to five children.

When Luke became ill, friends set up The Luke Evans Fund on social networking site Facebook, which helped pay for Nikki’s bus fares to and from Preston Royal Infirmary, where Luke was being treated.

The fund has now been changed to the Luke and Nikki Fund, designed to help other young actors and actresses on the road to success in the devoted couple’s names.

The group states: “The fund has been set up to recognise their love, passion, empathy and joy, their devotion to acting and extraordinary potential.

“We would like them to live on in the potential of others.”