A heartbroken father has spoken about the major problem of student suicides after an inquest heard how his gifted son took his own life.

Former Dorchester pupil Ross McFarlane was a talented sportsman and an aspiring law student at Exeter University.

Without warning the 20-year-old took his own life last year after returning from a house party in the city.

Ross went to Park School in Yeovil and the Gryphon School, Sherborne before studying for A-levels at Dorchester’s Thomas Hardye School.

An inquest at Exeter heard that four months before his death Ross had made a call to the university’s wellbeing service saying he felt ‘low, with little energy and anxious’. But counsellors did not consider there was any risk of self harm and there was no other contact after that.

After the hearing, Ross’s solicitor father Rory, from Sherborne, said: “In 2016 there were 146 student suicides. That is 95 per cent higher than in 2007. And many student deaths are not recorded as suicides.

“I don’t think universities, not just Exeter, are taking this seriously enough. It is a massive issue.”

He claimed university counsellors should have made a follow up call to see how his son was.

Mr McFarlane and his former wife Cordelia English, also a solicitor, said they had ‘no inkling’ that Ross was suicidal.

Mr McFarlane, 53, said: “He was absolutely normal. He was making plans for the summer.”

Ms English said: “We are just heartbroken.”

She added: The biggest cause of deaths of young people under 35 is suicide, more than car accidents.”

The inquest heard Ross was studying law and worked with West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin at Westminster during the week of the EU Referendum.

He was a Youth National sailing champion and a keen all-round sportsman.

The senior coroner for Devon, Philip Spinney, said Ross was a ‘very engaging person’ who had a large circle of friends.

Ross’ girlfriend Imogen Knox said he could have low moods and occasionally talked about suicide.

She said a week before his death in March 2017 he complained about some petty things and was irritable.

He had walked home with a friend from the house party and was discussing a forthcoming university event. Ross was not drunk and had been acting normally.

His flatmates said he was his ‘normal extrovert self’ and were deeply shocked when they found him in his locked bedroom.

Police said notes indicated what he was going to do. There were no suspicious circumstances.

The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion that Ross ‘died as a result of his own actions’.

He called it a tragedy and said Ross ‘had so much to live for’.

Ross’s family said he was ‘kind, selfless and had a very giving attitude to others’.

They said: “If only he had given himself the same amount of time and attention, perhaps he would not have slipped into a despair from which he obviously saw no release.

“Remember him as the happy, kind and polite lad with the Hollywood smile who was a talented sailor, fun loving, energetic, generous and genuine, and was someone who filled his 20 years with a lifetime of achievements”

University is 'deeply saddened'

After the hearing, a University of Exeter spokesman said: “We remain deeply saddened by the death of Ross McFarlane, and our thoughts and sympathies continue to be with his family and friends at this difficult time.

“The University offers a broad range of services for students who need mental health support and understands how important it is for students to get a quick response when they first seek help.

“We offer an initial triage service to make contact with students within two to five days after they have sought support so we can discuss their needs further and offer guidance and assistance and help.

“We also work closely with the NHS as students are referred for specialist medical treatment if necessary.

“While tragic instances such as this are rare at Exeter, even one case is one too many and we constantly review the support we offer to students, and ask for their feedback, to ensure we are able to meet their needs and offer the necessary support.”

If you are struggling with mental health or suicidal thoughts, call the following helplines:

  • Samaritans 116 123

  • Papyrus (for those aged under 35) 0800 068 41 41

  • Childline (for children and young people under 19) 0800 1111

  • The Silver Line (for older people) 0800 4 70 80 90