Kevin Neil Whitrick (17 August 1964 – 21 March 2007) was a British electrical engineer who committed suicide by hanging himself while in an online chat room.[1]
Kevin Whitrick | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kevin Neil Whitrick 17 August 1964 Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England |
| Died | 21 March 2007 (aged 42) Wellington, Shropshire, England |
| Cause of death | Suicide by hanging |
| Occupation | Electrical Engineer |
| Spouse |
Paula Whitrick
(m. 1988; sep. 2005) |
| Children | 2 |
Background
editWhitrick had been married to his wife Paula since 1988, and they had two children. At the time of his death, the marriage broke down about two years prior, and he was living separately from his family.[2] In 2006, Whitrick was severely injured in a car accident and suffered long-term health consequences.[2]
Suicide
editIn March 2007, Whitrick was using the Paltalk video chat service, in a special "insult" chatroom with about 60 other users where people "have a go at each other".[2] He stood on a chair, punched a hole in his ceiling and placed a rope around a joist, then tied the other end around his neck and stepped off the chair in order to asphyxiate himself. Some people thought this was a prank, until his face started turning blue. Some people in the chat room encouraged him by saying things like "just get on with it", while others tried desperately to find his address. A member in the room contacted the police, who arrived at the scene two minutes later. Whitrick was pronounced dead at 11:15 pm GMT.[1]
Aftermath
editThe death was widely reported in the media. Concerns were raised over the possibility that it could inspire further suicides,[3] as well as the webcam footage becoming available in perpetuity on the internet.[4] Detectives traced about 100 chatroom users to question them about their role in the suicide, though the Crown Prosecution Service did not pursue any criminal charges against them.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Bale, Joanna (24 March 2007). "Get on with it, said net audience as man hanged himself on webcam". The Times. Archived from the original on 6 April 2007. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
- ^ a b c "Chatroom users 'egged on father to kill himself live on webcam'". London Evening Standard. 24 March 2007. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
- ^ Merritt, Brookes (25 March 2007). "Live hanging shown on web: Alberta suicide-prevention groups brace for copycat deaths". CNEWS. Archived from the original on 28 March 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Keep online suicide footage offline: police". ninemsn. 26 March 2007. Archived from the original on 29 March 2007. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
- ^ "No charges over 'suicide' on web". BBC News. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.
- ^ Ungoed-Thomas, Jon (26 March 2007). "Police consider charging chatroom users for inciting cyber suicide". The Australian. Archived from the original on 15 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.