Sophie Gradon's boyfriend was 'screaming and hysterical' when he found the Love Island star dead

The distraught boyfriend of Sophie Gradon took his own life almost three weeks after he and his brother discovered the Love Island star hanging at her parent's home, an inquest has heard.

Aaron Armstrong, 25, was 'hysterical' in a call to his mother Donna while he and Ryan Armstrong were in the house with the 32-year-old body on June 20. 

Her death shocked the Armstrong family, with Ms Gradon apparently looking forward to a forthcoming race meeting they were planning to attend.

The inquest heard that in the hours before her death she sent a picture of herself in a new dress to Donna Armstrong which she planned to wear at the races.

Mr Armstrong, an amateur boxer who worked as a boat captain in his father's sea freight business, was found hanging in his room by Donna at the family's sprawling home on the outskirts of Blyth, Northumberland.

Posting online eight days before his death, Mr Armstrong made reference to seeing Sophie again, writing: 'I will never stop loving u and my heart will be yours until the day I join you I will see u very soon my angel so keep are [sic] bed warm for me'.    

Eric Armstrong, senior Coroner for South Northumberland, recorded a verdict that Aaron took his own life after taking cocaine and alcohol, which may have clouded his judgement.

Mr Armstrong read a statement from Donna Armstrong detailing how Sophie's body was found.

In it she said: 'Aaron's relationship with Sophie was very intense and emotional.'

On June 17th last year Aaron and Sophie went for Sunday lunch at Branches restaurant in Ponteland, Northumberland, and the following day Mr and Mrs Armstrong went on holiday to France.

Mrs Armstrong said: 'When we got to France I received a Facebook message from Sophie and a picture of a dress with a link on it. She said she had chosen a dress to wear at a race meeting we were going to.'

Sophie's was pronounced dead on June 20th after her body was found by the Armstrong brothers.

Mrs Armstrong's statement to the hearing said: 'I received a call from Aaron, he said he was worried, he'd had no contact from Sophie and she had not been on her social media profile.

'He sounded worried and was talking quickly and was snappy.He rang Ryan to take him to Sophie's because he was worried about what he might find.

'Ryan said he was in the process of doing that. Half an hour later I got a call from Ryan . He was crying and said Sophie seemed to have hung herself. I could hear Aaron screaming in the background asking if the ambulance was coming. He sounded hysterical.'

Mr Armstrong said: 'It is clear Aaron was extremely distressed as a consequence of he and his brother Ryan finding Sophie.'





MailOnline