A builder who suffered from tinnitus shot himself in the head after saying the condition was “driving him mad”.
As his condition worsened in the months leading up to his death, Carl Ellam, 53, began to wonder if he might have a brain tumour.
He went to his GP, had his ears syringed, and was given sleeping tablets because of the “noise in his head”.
An inquest in Huddersfield heard the self employed builder and scaffolder was a hard worker, and enjoyed his family and social life, and apart from the tinnitus seemed happy,
But one morning last July, his wife Dawn woke to find he wasn’t in bed.
She became concerned when she couldn’t find him, and she told her son Alex, 19, she was getting increasingly worried.
The couple’s eldest son Matthew, 26, then rang to try to help, but at the same time a neighbour, Janet Byford, found Mr Ellam’s body at a stable she owns close to the Ellam’s family home, in Swallow Lane, Golcar.
He had suffered a gunshot wound to the head, and his rifle lay across his body.
Mr Ellam was well known in the area, and had a gun licence as he was keen on shooting. He owned a number of guns and rifles which he kept in a secure cabinet.
After Mrs Byford had called the police, officers went to the Ellam’s house and found a rifle missing.
In a statement, Mrs Ellam said: “I broke down, and couldn’t believe Carl had done such a thing.
“He had been a little depressed but I didn’t know things were so bad.
“He had been suffering from tinnitus and said it was getting worse. He said it was driving him mad.”
She said he had been prescribed sleeping tablets due to the “constant noise” in his head, and she said: “He began to think it was something more sinister.”
A post mortem examination found cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head.
Assistant coroner Mary Burke said apart from the tinnitus, Mr Ellam was in good health.
She recorded a conclusion of suicide, and said: “This could not be construed as a cry for help. There is nothing to suggest he was expecting anyone to in any way interfere.
“This was an act intended by Mr Ellam to end his own life.”
Families affected by suicide can contact the national charity Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide on 0300 111 5065
