A YOUNG actress hanged herself months after her soulmate and fiance lost his battle against cancer.
Talented Nikki Sam-Addae, from Dalton, had dreams of travelling and aspiring others into the profession she loved so much.
But an inquest heard the 23-year-old was left shattered when her finance Luke Evans was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
When he lost his brave battle 12 months later, Nikki, who was set for stardom after signing to a London talent agency, spiralled into depression.
She was found dead in woodland off Wakefield Road, Waterloo on August 17 last year, just seven months after his death.
Her devastated mum Kathryn Dhurmea said in a statement read at the Huddersfield inquest yesterday: “She was a talented young woman who fell in love and lost her soulmate too soon and couldn’t cope.”
The inquest heard that Nikki, who had four brothers and sisters, knew from an early age that she wanted to be an actress.
Mrs Dhurmea said: “She was an outgoing person who made friends easily, a happy child who would sing and dance, putting on shows for the family.
“The only thing she wanted to do was become an actress when she grew up and she worked very hard at school.”
Dedicated Nikki, described as a ‘perfectionist’ in her work, attended Greenhead College and appeared in college productions.
In 2005 Nikki, who also performed with the Halifax Thespians, began an acting degree at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston.
It was there she met the love of her life, Welshman Luke, who was also an aspiring actor.
Mrs Dhurmea said: “She fell in love with Luke, he was her soulmate.
“They made plans to travel after university and teach acting, she was very happy.”
But tragedy struck the young couple when Luke started having problems with his eyes and in January 2008 was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
He spent the last year of his life in hospital and Nikki put her degree on hold so she could be at his bedside every day.
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.”
