Bridge-plunge boy killed himself

Date published: 18 June 2014


A STUDIOUS 16 year old took his life by plunging from a motorway bridge in January - but the reasons for his tragic death will always remain a mystery.

An inquest heard yesterday how Mohammed Abdul Razzak, of Coldhurst, was seen on CCTV at the bridge - near junction 22 of the M60 at Hollinwood - at around 2am on January 6. His body was late discovered with catastrophic injuries on a slip road by two railway workers and an off-duty police officer.

The Oldham Academy North pupil had sent a message to a friend in the days leading up to the incident saying he was considering ending his own life.

Mum Cufta Begum told the inquest in Heywood how the quiet teenager’s behaviour began to change last September when he became more withdrawn and didn’t eat or sleep properly.

Soon after this he went missing, but turned up at his uncle’s house at 11pm. He disappeared again shortly afterwards and didn’t return home until 3am.

In October he failed to turn-up for an exam — the start of behavioural issues, stress over exams and self-harm that led to referral to a child psychiatrist, though nothing untoward was discovered.

Mohammed was granted special permission to visit Bangladesh for a break and returned on December 15 “charged up”. He returned to school on the 17th and agreed to meet friends on the 19th, but didn’t keep the date.

On the day before he died he spent the whole day in bed and was asleep when his mother checked on him at11.30pm. She was awakened at 4am with the dreadful news.

Coroner Lisa Hashmi said: “He was a fit, healthy and intelligent young man with a promising future.

“There was some evidence to suggest he had started to harm himself and had considered more serious harm.

“I am satisfied he intended to take his own life. Regrettably what I cannot say is why he did what he did.”