A photographer who snapped stars such as One Direction, Rita Ora and Kylie Minogue took his own life by taking a large dose of a party drug...
A photographer who snapped stars such as One Direction, Rita Ora and Kylie Minogue took his own life by taking a large dose of a party drug after splitting with his boyfriend, an inquest heard.
Matt Irwin took the party drug GHB before being found dead at a flat in Hackney, east London.
The 36-year-old had begun suffering from depression after splitting from his long-term boyfriend. Following his death, an “open letter to the world” was found on his laptop.
One of the many stars he counted as friend, Rita Ora, paid tribute to him on social media. She wrote: "Matthew Irwin, you were always smiling, I’m so lucky to have known you, and shooting so many fun things together."
Mr Irwin's body was discovered by three friends who became concerned when they could not get a hold of him. They visited his flat where they found his body.
One pal, Samantha Teasdale, said in a statement read to the court that Mr Irwin had “a lot of friends”. The inquest also heard details of his “open letter to the world” that was found.
Coroner Jacqueline Devonish said: “He describes depression as brutal. He writes that ‘as a guy you really can’t say you’re not coping’.
She added: “It is clear that he was depressed. He did however say in that note that he did wish he was dead.”
