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news
Lee Fancourt (source - Facebook)Record-breaking cyclist Lee Fancourt died by suicide as a result of acute cocaine overdose hears inquest
An inquest has heard that record-breaking cyclist Lee Fancourt overdosed on cocaine after texting a friend: ‘Bye brother, I have had enough'.
Gloucestershire Live reports that on January 19, the 40-year-old father-of-two was found unconscious and unresponsive by police in the back seat of his car, parked in a layby.
Messages posted to social media in the days before his death had given rise to concerns for his welfare and his family had reported him missing as they were not able to contact him.
A pathologist said there had been an overwhelming amount of cocaine present in his body alongside MDMA (ecstasy), some alcohol and therapeutic drugs such as antihistamines and over-the-counter cough mixture.
Coroner Katy Skerrett said: “It might only have been a fleeting intention but based on the amount of cocaine, the text message and how he had taken himself away from his family and friends, I am passing a verdict of suicide.”
Fancourt, who changed his surname to Ridgway prior to his death, established a number of Guinness World Records.
They included the fastest crossing of Europe by bike from north to south, and three records for the furthest distances covered off-road on a mountain bike over 12, 24 and 48 hours.
> Gloucester cyclist sets new World Record for fastest crossing of Europe from north to south
He also set a Guinness World Record for the most countries cycled through in 24 hours, when he visited the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia on a 323-mile ride.
In 2015, he attempted to become the quickest person ever to ride from Land’s End to John and Groats and back again (LEJOGLE), but was forced to abandon due to illness.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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15 comments
I hope that none of Lee's friends or family are reading this...
So sad.
Absolutely.
And saddening to see the some dreadful insults posted here. Some people have no respect for anyone.
Sometimes, isn't ‘I have had enough' a rational response, though? Sometimes.
Maybe if you are slowly dying of a chronic disease. Almost certainly not if you are 40 and have two kids - that's just a tragedy, surely.
I've written about being in this very deep kind of trouble in the context of being a man, and a cyclist. http://bikeby.bike/bikes/13-everything-must-fall-apart/ It's just shit all round really and ultimately there are ways out, through the journye is very hard indeed.
Just started reading the blog, after following the link. Great stuff, thanks
I take more umbrage at the title's clunky construction order.
English is predominantly a subject–verb–object language, not object-verb-subject. We'd say "Inquest (subject) hears (verb) cyclist (object) died" and not "Cyclist (object) dies hears (verb) inquest (subject)"
Yoda speaking hear you.
I don't know, it would have worked as
"Cyclist (object) dies, (comma) hears (verb) inquest (subject)"
too...
Used to believe that depression was just something you could just kick yourself out of.
Then my thyroid started playing up and I found myself all over the place and unable to just kick myself out it. It's totally shit when you're literally trying to feel happy but you just can't and I can now sympathise with anyone with it, whatever the root cause.
Men don't talk to thier friends about emotional issues, 'tis just the way we're programmed and it kills far too many of us. Keeping up friendships and exercise can be key and one only has to read today's piece in the Guardian about running and its effect on the brain to understand how crucial exercising in the company of others can be - think group rides. Please chaps share your emotions; embarrasment is far easier for you to overcome than the grief your loved ones would suffer because you couldn't or wouldn't try. If you can't speak to a friend please speak to the Samaratans 116 123, they will always listen.
'Died by Suicide'? sorry but that is simply a rubbish way to describe matters and not even accurate. Died through a cocktail of drugs/alcohol or committed suicide/killed himself.
Always desperately sad when depression kicks in, State of Mind campaign amongst others can be of great help. Having a support network of friends and family that can help you get through the tough times when all seems lost and you are without hope is so vital to help people avoid taking their lives.
RIP
http://stateofmindsport.org/
Typically self-centred comment from BTBS.
What are you on about?
The title was crass/inaccurate/poorly written and then I went on to talk about depression which is a massively underestimated thing and men particularly have problems dealing with so linked to the stateofmind org.
You're so busy trying to slag me off with your self centred BS deflects away from the message!
Media guidelines produced by Samaritans ( https://www.samaritans.org/media-centre/media-guidelines-reporting-suici... ) and any of the suicide awareness training (ASIST, SafeTalk, USI, SIT etc) I have been on or delivered over the past few years state that "died by suicide" is preferable to using "commited" . But I don't want to let the semantics to get in the way of the rest of your message which is spot on- fellas in particular need to get better at asking for help.
@ Road.CC - You should really have a wee look at those guidelines yourselves and include some links to help services at the end of the article.
Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 ( in fact, in many European countries that is the number to contact a helpline in the country you are in) or jo [at] samaritans.org.
RIP brother.
Depression is a twat!