Luther actor Luke Westlake took his own life while out of work during the lockdown, an inquest into his death has heard.
The star, who played Lee Peck in the BBC detective series alongside Idris Elba, was just 26-years-old.
During an inquest this week Coroner Michael Walsh concluded that his death was suicide.
Clinical lead at Oxford Health NHS foundation Dr John Pimm said: “The key issue is that in trauma therapy, you will delve into very distressing things from someone’s past – in order to do that they need to be in a really good place.
“If you have not done the pre-work it is very risky, it is like going into surgery without the pre work.”
Luke Westlake appeared on the BBC series Luther (Image: BBC)
The inquest heard how Westlake was “stressed about the loss of work resulting from the coronavirus pandemic”.
They added his long-distance relationship had also broken-down.
He is said to have heartbreakingly tried to take his own life in late April and then again in June 2020.
Coroner Walsh concluded: “Luke was aged 26 years at the time of his death.
Luke Westlake died last summer aged 26 (Image: HNP Newsdesk/Hyde News & Pictures Ltd)
“He has a history of anxiety and depression and substantial misuse by way of alcohol and cannabis, used as a coping mechanism.
“He had reported childhood abuse and did not agree with plans of clinicians to deal with substance abuse before he had some treatment for trauma when he was younger.
“Luke found it difficult to deal with stressful triggers – his relationship and his employment.”
Idris Elba is the lead in BBC drama Luther (Image: BBC / Des Willie)
It was noted that it was not uncommon for him to threaten to harm himself, and such an occasion occurred on June 17.
He added: “Unfortunately, he was found the next day at 8.46am.
“He had threatened to take his life and had taken cannabis shortly before he died.”
Westlake graduated from ArtsEd drama school in 2017 before going on to appear in Luther.
He also appeared in BBC dramas Doctors and No Offence.
Westlake’s representatives The BWH Agency added: “With extreme sadness we honour our beautiful client Luke Westlake.
“Luke was an exceptionally brilliant, instinctive and truly transformative actor whose passing is nothing short of a tragedy.”
For emotional support contact the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
