A loving dad-of-two was tragically found dead in his garage just nine weeks after welcoming his newborn baby into the world.

Jonathon Heppell, of Seaham, County Durham took his his own life in the early hours of January 2 after a day drinking with family and friends.

An inquest held into the 28-year-old’s death at Crook Coroner’s Court this week heard he had never spoke about self-harming or suicide, with a coroner saying no one will ever know why he decided to end his life.

In a statement read in court Jonathon’s partner of eight years and mother to his children Danielle Watson said: “Jonathon has never spoken about struggling with his mental health. Although he can occasionally be stressed he has never spoken about harming himself or ending his life.”

The Northern Echo: Jonathon Heppell.Jonathon Heppell. (Image: GOFUNDME)

The court heard he’d been picked up by his father at 2pm on New Year's Day to go day drinking with friends and family at Easington Welfare Club, near their home.

“He was in a good mood before he was picked up and was having shots in the house with his friends before they left,” Miss Watson added.

She said she heard him return home at about 10.30pm and saw him come upstairs to get his phone charger at about 12.30am but he went back downstairs. It was only when she went to make a bottle for her baby at 3.30am and saw he wasn’t asleep on the sofa as she expected that she became concerned.

“At about 1am I heard a loud bang from downstairs, but I didn’t think anything of it.

“At about 3.30am I came downstairs to make my child a bottle and was expecting to find him asleep on the sofa […] he was nowhere to be seen.

“I noticed his mobile, wallet and house key were lined up on the kitchen worktop.

“I went back upstairs to feed my child when I came to the realisation Jonathon had done something to hurt himself.

“It was this point I went into the garage and found him. I knew he had passed away.”

The Northern Echo: An inquest was held at Crook Coroner's Court this week.An inquest was held at Crook Coroner's Court this week. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

His heartbroken mum Susan Heppell said: “He was a loving son, dad, partner and uncle who was always full of life.

“Family was everything to him. He was always there for anyone.

“He loved his family and had two beautiful children. His loss has devastated all who knew him and he will be forever missed but never forgotten.”

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A fundraiser after his death in January raised more than £9,000 in his memory.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Assistant Coroner Dr Leslie Hamilton said: “Sometimes we have a history of people trying to kill themselves before, or taking overdoses or there is a mental health history but none of that applies to Jonathon.

“No one will ever know why he did what he did.”