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Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actor found dead suffocated in bed with heartbreaking note

The former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actor was only 47 when he was found dead, suffocated in his bed at his home in Manchester, alongside a harrowing final note.

[Actor Kevin Rowley]

The actor had been struggling with mental health issues for years(Image: Just Giving)

In a heartbreaking tragedy, a Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actor was found suffocated in his bed along with a heartbreaking note at his home in Hulme, Manchester.

Kevin Rowley was 47 when his life ended by suicide after years of battling depression and anxiety. He appeared as an extra in famous television shows like Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, and was known to his friends as a man with a smile on his face with the best sense of humour.

The actor died by suicide on August 15, 2017, after reportedly struggling with mental health issues since his mid-teens. An inquest heard that things had gotten especially bad for Kevin, after the former Corrie alum found it difficult to face major life milestones like his 30th and 40th birthdays.

Kevin was found dead almost nine years ago, suffocated in his bed along with a suicide note that contained the contact details of his family. Officers had attended his Manchester property after getting a call regarding his welfare.

Over the course of his life, Kevin had worked several different and vastly varying jobs. Apart from finding work as a TV extra in mega-successful soaps like Hollyoaks and the long-running Coronation Street, he had also worked as a flight attendant and a holiday rep before ultimately becoming a counsellor.

['Coronation Street' TV show set, Manchester, UK]

He had previously appeared as an extra in Coronation Street(Image: Richard Saker/REX/Shutterstock)

In a statement made at the time, his brother Paul Rowley said: He was an extra on TV programmes such as Hollyoaks and Coronation Street, although there were long periods of time when he was out of work.

He had some long term relationships, but nothing significant. Kevin started to have anxiety and depression from his mid teens. He was very close to his mother and felt the force of her loss when she died.

He really struggled with significant milestones including his 30th and 40th birthday. He made many calls for help and these got more frequent as he got older.

The actors brother shared Kevin was more open with Pauls wife about how he felt, adding his brother would sometimes be away from home doing things with his other friends and that he was not aware of physical problems.

Paul added: He kept himself fit and healthy, but he had a life long problem with depression. We would keep in touch by texting and phone calls. My last contact with him was in January 2017.

Sharing that Kevin had lived in Dublin for a short span of time where he stayed with some friends, Paul added that his brother had lived in ski resorts in Austria and other places back when he worked as a holiday rep.

He had some relationship problems and financial worries.

[Hollyoaks poster]

His brother shared that he'd worked in some of the UK's most famous television shows(Image: LIMEPICTURES)

Heartbreaking note

A coroner shed some more light on the heartbreaking note that was found along with Kevins body.

Manchester coroner Jean Harkin recorded a conclusion of suicide and shared: It is clear that Kevin had a history of mental health issues and suicidal ideation and there is evidence he accessed support services.

There was a note found detailing his wishes when he died and the evidence supports the fact that Kevin intended to die. I want to offer my sincere condolences to his friends and his brother.

Fiona Winstanley, an officer at a mental health access team disclosed Kevin had made frequent appointments with their team and shared that the actor regularly accessed their services, however, since he was a counsellor himself at The Sanctuary counselling service in Manchester, he didnt wish to fully get involved with their services.

Fiona added: He said he didnt want to run into people he worked with previously. He had suicidal tendencies, but he kept things to himself. He was prescribed medication to reduce anxiety, including diazepam as this had helped him in the past.

He was spoken to about the crisis point and he said he would not access it and he did not get involved with the crisis team. Some days he felt he needed it, some days he felt he recovered.

Police had said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the former Coronation Street and Hollyoaks actors death.

After Kevins death, his wellwishers raised 1,600 for his funeral as well as the Manchester counselling service where he worked.

On the Just Giving page dedicated to the actor, his friend Maz Hussain wrote: Most people will remember Kevin with a smile on his face with the best sense of humour, but Kevin was also suffering from personality disorder and there was another side to him who was struggling to cope with the anxiety, depression and loneliness and it all got too much for him.

No matter what you are going through, how dark it may seem and how hopeless or lost you feel please dont suffer alone, dont be afraid to use the people around you.

If you or anyone you know is struggling or has been affected by any of the issues in this article, help is available 24/7 in the UK. Call Samaritans for free from any phone on 116 123 or visit a local Samaritans branch.

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