'Gifted' boy took own life after failing maths GCSE - then parents were told he passed

A talented teenager tragically took his own life after being told he had failed his before his parents were told he had actually passed the next day, an inquest heard.

Alex Henshaw, who was one of the world's best gamers, died a month after exam results came out and the following day he had the mark upgraded. In statement read by the coroner, his mother Lisa Hamilton said: "He had been very distressed, he had just failed a GCSE maths paper. The re-mark came back as a pass, I got an email the next day."

The 17 year old, from Winchester, who suffered from autism and ADHD, regularly ranked fifth in the during online tournaments, and he was studying for a BTEC in game design at Basingstoke College of . The inquest heard he was 'excelling' on the course, even being called in to explain his work because the tutor thought it was so good he must have cheated.

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Alex had lots of plans for his future including a visit to Japan with his father and work experience with a game design company. Winchester Coroner's Court was told that on the morning of her son's death in September last year, Ms Hamilton called the fire brigade because she could not get his door unlocked. They used a sledgehammer to get into the room where they found Alex's body and pronounced him dead.

An inquest into his death ruled it a suicide. As well as his concern over his maths mark, Alex had also been worried after being told he would have to do a presentation in front of his class, but no suicide note was left and so area coroner for Hampshire, Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp, said she she 'could not explain' why he had done the 'impulsive act'.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Ms Rhodes-Kemp reassured his family there was nothing they could have done to 'prevent or predict' his death. She said: "It was quite obvious that Alex Henshaw was very gifted in the studies in which he was enrolled and was likely to have a bright future in the field he had chosen, he was regularly in the top 10 gamers in the world.

"For whatever reason, we will never know, he decided to end his life on the 10 September, 2024. Alex had enormous challenges, he had a number of conditions both physical and of a neurological nature. These would have affected not just his physical health but his ability to make friends, it is a credit to him that he managed in a society that is not always as sympathetic as it could be.

"I am very very sorry for whatever it was that caused him to take the action he did. I am in no doubt that this was a deliberate act, the reason for which I can't explain, there was no sign on the day or in the weeks prior that Alex would do anything of this kind.

"It was an impulsive act that could not have been prevented or predicted by his family. He was sadly pronounced deceased at his home, I do feel Alex took his own life and intended to do so, the conclusion is suicide."

Paying tribute to Alex, his mother said he was a 'happy' child looking forward to the next year of his course. "He was really looking forward to the next year," Ms Hamilton said. "Alex was excited about going to Japan with his father, he was happy despite having autism. He was doing so well at college."

In her statement she also criticised the 'underfunding' of the and the difficulty of getting specialist educational support for her three children with autism. She said: "The SEND system is like pushing a river uphill. I fought everyday to get them help.

"I came up against the underfunding of the NHS which forced me to sell my belongings for private diagnosis and gastroenterology for Alex." Mr Henshaw said that his son visited him most weekends and they enjoyed watching films and cooking together.

He said: "We had a good relationship, we would chat, cook, watch films. Alex did not say anything was upsetting him, there were no signs. I miss my son very much, he was also my friend."

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email , visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.