From correspondents in London

March 25, 2007 12:14am
Article from: Sunday Herald Sun


* Father of two "goaded" to suicide
* Chatroom users watch, then call police
* Users "felt sick" after thinking it was a hoax

A FATHER of two has hanged himself live over the Internet in Britain's first "cyber suicide".

Kevin Whitrick, 42, took his life after being goaded by dozens of chatroom users from across the world who initially believed he was play acting.

But as they watched in horror, Mr Whitrick climbed on to a chair and hanged himself with a piece of rope.

Mr Whitrick was found dead by police in Wellington, Shropshire, after they were alerted by a web user.

Stunned by what they had witnessed - broadcast on a popular chatroom website used by millions across the globe - chatroom users immediately contacted the police.

Officers rushed to the man's home within minutes, smashing down the door to try to save him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

It emerged that Mr Whitrick had been suffering from depression after being badly injured in a car crash last year.

Friends said the breakdown of his marriage and the recent death of his father had also caused him great distress.

Mr Whitrick told users of web chat site PalTalk what he was going to do two hours before he killed himself on Wednesday night.

He was logged on with about 50 other users to an "insult" chatroom where people have a go at each other.

Distraught users of the site said they had felt sick and had assumed the web broadcast was a hoax.

Onlookers thought Mr Whitrick was joking so they encouraged him and told him to make sure his webcam was turned on.

Mr Whitrick switched on his webcam and went ahead with his grisly plan.

One anonymous user said: "He tied a rope around an uncovered ceiling joist and stood on the chair as he tied the rope around his neck.

"Some of us chatroom users, talking to Kevin over text chat, microphones and video tried to convince him to step down, but others egged him on telling him to get on with it.

"We just couldn't believe he was doing it - it was surreal.

"One chatter said: 'F..king do it, get on with it, get it round your neck. For f..k's sake, he can't even do this properly'."

Another user who did not wish to be named said: "When Kevin stepped off the chair and was left dangling, the mood in the chatroom changed and people began to realise what they had seen.

"We were asking if anyone knew where he lived and saying they should call the police.

"I think someone contacted the police in their local area, but sadly no one could get to him in time."

Shortly after, moderators on the site closed the feed from Mr Whitrick's webcam.

He had been living in his flat after separating from his wife two years ago.

The couple, who married in 1988, had 12-year-old twins who live with their mother close by.

ANYONE with personal problems can call Lifeline on 131 114

http://qgl.ausforums.com/?agn=thread&id=2510586

old news

Shotgun his webcam for $5

this thread should hang.