A TEENAGER with everything to live for "acted out a fantasy" which cost him his life.

That was the claim of the grief-stricken father of student Mark Edgell, who took 80 co-proxamol tablets after celebrating his 18th birthday.

At the inquest into the A-level student's death, Mr William Edgell asked the coroner to record an accidental death verdict.

"I feel it was an act of fantasy that went terribly wrong," he said.

But coroner Mr Barrie Williams recorded a verdict of suicide, citing a note Mark had left.

The inquest heard how Mark, an accomplished drummer and keen student in drama and music, was found dead in his bed by his father on the morning of February 14.

Hours earlier the former Bury CE High School pupil had been out celebrating his 18th birthday with friends.

Returning home shortly after midnight, the student was heard by his parents "presumably" making himself a bite to eat before going to his bedroom.

"In the morning I went into his room to tell him I was going out and I found that he was dead," said his father.

Eight empty strips of co-proxamol, which would have contained ten tablets in each, were found in Mark's room along with a page and a half long note clearly indicating his intention of taking his own life. Mr Williams said the "intelligently written and well composed letter" referred to Mark's feelings about the "harsh and cruel realities of life".

Mark, of Turton Road, Tottington, had no problems, health or otherwise, the inquest heard.

A post mortem revealed Mark, who was well respected and loved by his friends, took four times the minimum fatal drug dosage resulting in his death soon after taking the tablets.

Mr Edgell told the inquest: "Anyone whose life was touched by Mark was enriched. He was an example to everyone and anyone who came close to him could not fail to love him. His mum and I have always been very proud."

Mr Williams said: "If it was an act of fantasy it would be unlikely to be coupled with a level of overdosing that was found. It is not a question of taking a few tablets and leaving the rest on the table.

"Mark must have been aware that taking the tablets would have led to his death.

"Also, within the quiet of his room, he clearly composed, in accordance with his intelligence, a reasonably long and clear indication as to an intention to take his own life. I am left with no alternative but to record a verdict of suicide."

After the inquest, Mark's father told the Bury Times: "I cannot believe he would do something like that. I still feel it was an act of fantasy rather than a deliberate one."

ZStudent friends from both Holy Cross and Bury College raised £700 when they staged a benefit gig in memory of Mark Edgell. The money was presented this week on behalf of the teenager to the Royal Variety Club of Great Britain, the charity chosen by his parents.

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