Teenager's death a 'terrible waste'

A coroner has described the suicide of a Douglas teenager last year as a ‘tragic and terrible waste’.

Yesterday John Needham concluded the inquest into the death of 19-year-old Caitlin Alker.

Caitlin committed suicide in the early hours of August 26th by hanging herself with her dressing gown cord in her bathroom following a night out with friends.

Offering his condolences to her family Mr Needham said the balance of Caitlin’s mind had been altered by a number of personal problems including abusive comments received on Facebook and an addiction to Valium.

He said these had created an ‘unfortunate conjunction of circumstances’ which had ultimately led to her decision to take her own life.