AN “EXHAUSTED” husband who took his own life as he cared for his severely ill partner has been described as a “desperately sad” case by a coroner.

An inquest held at Basingstoke Magistrates Court on Monday heard how Clint Clements, of Hartley Wintney, had overdosed on painkillers after spending the evening at home with his disabled wife Angela in May this year.

In the five to six weeks before the 58-year-old’s death, Mrs Clements, who already suffered from diabetes and mental health conditions, was diagnosed with stage four cancer.

The inquest heard that on Tuesday, 8 May, a friend of Mr Clements saw him crying outside Frimley Park Hospital where Mrs Clements was receiving treatment.

This was after he was unable to get hospital arrangements he wanted for her, and he said he would take a hose pipe to the car to take both his and Angela’s life.

While it was debated if Mr Clements’ comment was referring to a suicide pact between himself and Angela, his sister Shani Lacey clarified Angela was unaware of his remarks until after his death.

North East Hampshire coroner Andrew Bradley said he believed it to be a “throw away comment” with no evidence of it to be translated into action and Ms Lacey added: “I never thought Clint would have taken his own life.

“She [Angela] meant everything to him, their relationship was good I knew Clint was caring for Angela, she had physical and mental health conditions which was a strain on him as the problems increased.

“They loved each other a lot, it was very hard on him in the end, Angie’s cancer was diagnosed five to six weeks before Clint took his own life.”

“It wasn’t actually a suicide pact, he was at his wits end he couldn’t get the help for Angie. He couldn’t stand her suffering. She didn’t know about that until I told her.”

On the night of May 10, Mrs and Mrs Clements were sleeping downstairs in a living room, before Mrs Clements woke in the early hours to use the toilet, when she noticed her husband was not snoring as he usually did, and that his arm was cold.

In her statement she noted how the couple stayed up talking that night, and had been chatting about what animal they would like to be in the jungle.

Emergency services were called to their Pippins Square home, where paramedics performed CPR on Mr Clements after an initial delay getting into the house due to Angela’s physical difficulty getting to the door, but the 58-year-old was pronounced dead at 5.25am on May 11.

Mr Bradley ruled the death as suicide.

He said: “All the cases I deal with are tragic but this one is particularly so. I have absolutely no doubt in my mind he’s exhausted, he’s coping not just with Angela and [her] health conditions but also what is he doing for her.

“It is desperately sad he gave in really at the 11th hour for the need to get himself out of the distress and overwhelming exhaustion, by taking the overdose.

"It is just terribly sad for the family have to see.

“After this Angela herself, dies.”

n The Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123, or via email at jo@samaritans.org.