An auctioneer who shot himself with a bolt gun at a cattle mart where he was a director was fighting depression, an inquest heard.
Former Highland Games heavyweight champion Stephen Aitken, 45, had sought treatment for the illness after the stress of running Darlington Farmers’ Auction Mart became too much.
The father-of-four died in the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, on May 14 last year after locking himself in his cramped office and shooting himself in the head with the “humane killer”.
Teesside Coroner Clare Bailey returned a verdict that he killed himself having heard that despite his depression he could still make decisions for himself, that he was not intoxicated at the time and that to fire the bolt would require at least four deliberate actions.
His partner, Catherine Sheret, said in a statement that she could not explain his actions.
She said: “Stephen had never harmed himself, never threatened to do anything. I am absolutely at a loss to explain it.”
Mr Aitken, who was born in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, had suffered from anxiety, insomnia and depression for more than a year.
He had sought treatment, including one night at a psychiatric unit, and was prescribed a series of anti-depressants and sleeping pills.
He had seen his GP and a consultant psychiatrist a number of times and was signed off work.
Jim Brown, president of the Scottish Highland Games Association and a family friend, said: “The Scottish Highland Games both home and abroad still mourn the tragic passing of Stephen Aitken.
“He was a very gifted athlete who had competed on the Highland Games circuit for some 25 years and was still competing at a very high level just prior to his death.”