‘Bright and happy’ PE teacher Sam Applegarth found hanged in apartment just FIVE WEEKS after arriving in emirate – as inquest reveals deadly link to dutasteride medication
A BELOVED British teacher who desperately wanted to prevent hair loss took his own life in Dubai after switching to a powerful drug not licensed for treating baldness in the UK, a devastating inquest has heard.
Sam Applegarth, 31, a PE teacher from Outwood near Wakefield, was found hanged in his apartment on September 19, 2024, just five weeks after arriving in the emirate to start an exciting new chapter of his life.
In a heartbreaking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the medical community, Wakefield coroner’s court heard that the “bright and happy individual” had begun taking dutasteride – described as “more powerful” than the hair-loss medications he had previously used.
Despite having NO history of mental health problems or self-harm, and being remembered as an “absolute diamond” by those who knew him, coroner Oliver Longstaff ruled the teacher’s death a suicide.
The Drug That Changed Everything
The inquest heard that Applegarth had been concerned about his hair loss since 2015, when he was just 22 years old – a worry that would ultimately lead to tragedy nine years later.
Shockingly, the doctor treating Applegarth was completely unaware that he had begun taking dutasteride through an “online” prescription course – highlighting the dangers of unregulated internet medication.
Most disturbing of all, the inquest heard there were no known “suicidal ideation” side effects from dutasteride due to a FAILURE to report such feelings in men taking the drug, which is primarily used to treat enlarged prostates.
This critical gap in safety data meant that Applegarth – like countless other men – had no idea of the potential mental health risks he was taking.
A Life Cut Tragically Short
Applegarth’s death has devastated the tight-knit communities he touched throughout his career. The former Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation employee, who worked as a Rugby League Development Officer before becoming a PE teacher at Penistone Grammar, was universally adored.
We are devastated to learn of the passing of former employee and friend of the Foundation, Sam Applegarth,” Wakefield Trinity Community Foundation posted on Facebook. Everyone at the Foundation would like to send our deepest thoughts and wishes to Sam’s friends and family at this time.”
Tributes poured in from parents and colleagues, with Anita Godfrey calling him “An absolute diamond and role model he really engaged my three in rugby league and would go above and beyond.
The Grim Discovery
A work colleague made the horrifying discovery of Applegarth’s body on September 19, 2024 – just weeks after he had excitedly moved to Dubai to teach.
The devoted partner of Anya, dearly loved son of Angela and David, and loving brother of Ben, Sam’s death has left a gaping hole in the lives of all who knew him.
RJ Burgess Funeral Directors announced: “Sam of Outwood aged 31 years, tragically passed away whilst teaching in Dubai on 19th September 2024. Sam will be greatly missed by all his family and many friends and colleagues.
The Hidden Danger of Hair Loss Drugs
This tragedy comes amid growing concerns about the psychiatric risks of hair loss medications. Just last month, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed suicidal thoughts as a side effect of finasteride tablets – a similar drug to dutasteride.
The EMA found 325 relevant cases of suicidal ideation linked to these medications, with most cases concerning patients treated for hair loss rather than prostate problems.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has introduced patient alert cards warning men about potential psychiatric and sexual side effects of finasteride, including:
- Depressed mood
- Depression
- Suicidal thoughts
- Sexual dysfunction
Alarmingly, the FDA in the United States added suicidal ideation to the list of side effects for finasteride in 2022, while France’s regulatory agency stated these drugs could lead to “suicidal thoughts that could lead to suicide.
‘More Powerful’ But At What Cost?
Dutasteride, the drug Applegarth switched to, works similarly to finasteride but is considered “more powerful” – potentially making its side effects even more severe.
While finasteride is licensed in the UK for treating hair loss at a 1mg dose, dutasteride is NOT licensed for this purpose, making it an off-label prescription that many men obtain through online consultations without proper medical supervision.
The drug is primarily prescribed for enlarged prostates, but desperate men seeking to save their hair often turn to it as a more potent alternative – unaware of the potential mental health consequences.
A Warning to Others
Medical experts are now calling for urgent action to prevent more tragedies like Sam’s. Key concerns include:
- The ease of obtaining powerful medications through online prescriptions
- The lack of proper mental health screening before prescribing these drugs
- The failure to adequately warn patients about suicide risks
- The gap in reporting systems that has hidden the true scale of the problem
The Post Finasteride Syndrome advocacy group has been campaigning for years about the dangers, with recent research suggesting the adverse effects of these drugs are “clearly a problem” and “warrant intervention.
What You Need to Know
If you or someone you know is taking hair loss medication:
- Be aware of ANY mood changes, no matter how subtle
- Stop taking finasteride 1mg immediately if you develop depression or suicidal thoughts
- Seek urgent medical advice if you experience mental health symptoms
- Show the patient alert card to friends and family so they can watch for changes
- NEVER obtain these medications through unregulated online sources
A Preventable Tragedy
Sam Applegarth’s death represents a devastating failure of the medical system to protect vulnerable patients from dangerous side effects. A young man with everything to live for – a successful career, loving family, and exciting new adventure in Dubai – lost his life to a drug he thought would simply save his hair.
As his loved ones grieve and the communities he touched mourn the loss of an “absolute diamond,” serious questions must be asked about how many more men are unknowingly risking their lives for the sake of their appearance.
The coroner’s verdict may have been suicide, but the real question is: who bears responsibility for the hidden dangers that drove a happy, healthy young teacher to take his own life?
