A coroner has ruled that a 13-year-old boy found dead in a Welsh primary school playground did not intend to take his own life, describing his actions as “impulsive” following a family argument over missing alcohol and an aerosol.
Connor Lee Mark Slade was discovered unresponsive in the grounds of Melin Primary School in Mile End Row, Neath, South Wales, in the early hours of 29 January by family friends who had been visiting his home. The teenager had stormed out following a confrontation with his mother and stepfather about missing items.
Assistant coroner David Bennett, sitting at Swansea Guildhall, recorded a narrative verdict stating the circumstances did not point to Connor intending to take his life. “I am not satisfied Connor intended to end his life. Intent cannot be presumed, so I give a narrative conclusion,” Mr Bennett said.
Family Argument Preceded Tragedy
The inquest heard that Connor had returned home in good spirits around 9.30pm on 28 January, appearing happy and spending time on his phone. However, when his mother Louise Morgan and stepfather Jason Clark realised a bottle of vodka and an aerosol were missing, they confronted the teenager.
Connor started “kicking off” and stormed out of the house without his shoes, the court was told. He returned briefly to collect them before leaving again, threatening to “jump off a bridge” as he departed.
Detective Constable Siobhan Danaher told the hearing that Connor’s mother and stepfather informed police the teenager had made similar threats before but they hadn’t taken them seriously as he usually returned home after calming down.
Stepfather Jason Clark went out to search for Connor, walking around local streets, but was unable to find him and returned home. As Louise Morgan was calling police to report her son missing, their friends David Morrow and Amy Winslade, who had been visiting, were leaving the property.
Discovered by Family Friends
Moments after the couple left the house, those inside heard Amy Winslade shriek “Connor, Connor!” David Morrow had spotted the teenager’s body in the playground of the nearby primary school.
Former lifeguard Jason Clark attempted to give his stepson mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in the six minutes before paramedics arrived at the scene. Despite the efforts of emergency services, Connor was pronounced dead at 3.43am on 29 January.
Forensic pathologist Dr John Williams determined the cause of death was ligature self suspension. Traces of alcohol and cannabis were found in the teenager’s system but these were not at fatal levels and did not contribute to his death, the report stated.
Coroner’s Findings
Assistant coroner Mr Bennett said there was “not a deliberate act” on Connor’s part to “end his own life”, adding: “We will never know but I consider it likely that he had an altercation about missing aerosol and alcohol and Connor’s temper got the better of him.”
“Acting on impulse he went to the school and took the step he did thinking someone would come looking for him before it was fatal,” the coroner concluded.
Mr Bennett noted there was no evidence Connor had suicidal ideation and no history of self-harm. The coroner added that examination of the teenager’s phone revealed no evidence to suggest he intended to end his life intentionally.
Background and Support
The inquest heard that Connor, described by his mother as “a happy boy, one of the lads, a joker and leader of the pack”, had a good group of friends but had experienced difficulties, including exclusions from several schools. He was receiving support from Neath Port Talbot social services.
Connor lived with his father Keiran Slade before moving back in with his mother in Neath aged ten. Although he had “a quick temper”, he had always calmed down after disagreements, the inquest was told. His relationship with his father was described as good until around nine months before his death.
Detective Constable Danaher told the hearing that Connor had eight siblings and sometimes misused aerosols and smoked cannabis. Despite having what was described as 100 police convictions, those who knew him spoke of a teenager who was fundamentally happy but struggled with impulse control.
Mental Health Support in Wales
The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about mental health support for young people in Wales. The Children’s Commissioner for Wales has called for strengthened measures to address the underlying causes of poor mental health among children and increased investment in preventive measures.
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Wales support children and young people up to age 18 experiencing mental health problems. However, waiting lists and capacity issues remain significant challenges across the country.
The Welsh Government published draft all-age mental health and wellbeing strategies in February 2024, alongside suicide and self-harm prevention strategies. These aim to improve support across all age groups, with particular focus on early intervention and prevention.
Support Available
The coroner offered his “deep condolences to Connor’s family” as the inquest concluded. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of taking all expressions of distress seriously, even when they appear to be made impulsively or in anger.
For anyone affected by the issues raised in this article, support is available through:
- CAMHS services via GP referral
- Childline: 0800 1111
- Samaritans: 116 123
- PAPYRUS (Prevention of Young Suicide): 0800 068 4141
Mental health professionals emphasise that impulsive actions during emotional distress, particularly among teenagers, require immediate attention and support, regardless of whether threats have been made before.
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