A ‘COMPASSIONATE and kind’ company owner who struggled with his mental health was found dead with a gunshot wound to his head in a hangar at Thruxton Airport.  

Simon Neil Edmondson, of Cholderton, had long struggled with his mental health, often resorting to self-medication through alcohol.

On July 28, 2021, he was found dead in his office at Thruxton Airport.

An inquest into his death took place at Winchester Coroner’s Court on Monday, April 22, this year, and was told that the 48-year-old had sustained a gunshot wound to his head from an air rifle.

The inquest heard from Wai Chan, Mr Edmondson’s partner of 13 years, who said that his business, Edmondson Aviation, was being supported by loans in her name and her personal credit, having accumulated £250,000 worth of debt - which worsened his mental health.

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

Ms Chan said that on the day of his death Mr Edmondson left home and visited his office – despite having not been on site for a number of months.

Mr Edmondson told his partner that he was leaving to ‘find some peace’ after becoming upset that doctors were unable to refill his Diazepam prescription.

Ms Chan told the inquest that his workplace was the ‘last place’ should we have expected him to go.

The inquest heard that Ms Chan and Mr Edmondson had ‘briefly separated’ but had reinstated their engagement before his death. He was briefly in a relationship with Frances Thorne, whom he had known from his days in school.

Ms Thorne said in a statement that Mr Edmondson was a 'compassionate, kind and lovely person' who had struggled with 'low self-esteem'.

During the inquest Ms Chan spoke about the ways in which she tried to support Mr Edmondson with his mental health, including communicating with doctors. She said: “I don’t know what else I could have done to get him help.”

Mr Edmondson's mother, Mrs Wilkinson told the inquest that her son was 'quiet but full of fun'.

Mrs Wilkinson said that her son was a 'victim of circumstance' and had a difficult relationship with Ms Chan, making plans to leave her earlier that year.

Ms Chan told senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson that Mr Edmondson was “trying to live his life through the lens of social media”, displaying a level of wealth beyond that which he had.

He reportedly purchased luxury cars on the credit of his company, including a McLaren, a Range Rover and a Porsche.

Coroner Mr Wilkinson ruled that Mr Edmondson’s death was a suicide.

He said: "It is to be noted that he had a mountain of debt he couldn't find his way out of. He was in a tumultuous relationship and was unwilling to engage with support services.

"There were no suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement. It is more likely than not that he took his own life."

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