Kevin Whitrick Becomes First UK Cyber Suicide / Is Cyber Suicide Becomng A New Fad ?

UK's First Cyber Suicide - Live on Webcam

With all the death and particularly, video of death, that has started to crop up in our society we start to become somewhat more tolerable and less disgusted by gore & death portrayed in Hollywood films. However; this most recent case forces us to remember that things like real, actual death are not as tolerable as a movie at the theater. Especially when the death is live on webcam.

Kevin Whitrick was a 42 year old man who, March 23rd, became the UK's first cyber suicide today. He was participating in a chatroom, webcam'ing the entire event of him typing a cord around a hook and tying it around his neck. Some users of the chatroom that watched it described it in various ways. Some saying that they pleaded with him to not do it; others say they heard people egging him on. Then when he committed the act, the tone changed and the people in the chatroom realized it was no joke and several called the authorities.

Get on with it, said net audience as man hanged himself on webcam

Kevin Whitrick logged on to an internet chat room and announced that he was going to commit suicide. He then switched on his webcam, stood on a chair, smashed through his ceiling to expose a joist, tied a rope around his neck and hanged himself.

Several visitors to the site thought that it was a hoax and egged him on, but one dialled 999. By the time police arrived at his flat, he was dead. The case is believed to be the first of its kind in Britain.

Chatroom users 'egged on father to kill himself live on webcam'

A father-of-two 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 onto a chair, smashed through a ceiling and then hanged himself with a piece of rope.

Police consider charging chatroom users for inciting cyber suicide

ABOUT 100 internet chatroom users who witnessed a British man kill himself online - including some who allegedly incited him to hang himself - were being traced by detectives this weekend to be questioned over their roles in the cyber suicide.
Kevin Whitrick, 42, from Telford, Shropshire, killed himself after being goaded in an insult chatroom at the Paltalk website.
One of the users is claimed to have told him: "F..king do it. Get on with it."

The death has raised concerns that some internet forums encourage people to take their lives.

According to one charity that works to prevent suicide, there have been 17 deaths in Britain since 2001 involving internet chatrooms or sites that give advice on suicide methods.

Warning... Actual screenshot here

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is the only national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide through research and education, and to reaching out to people with mood disorders and those affected by suicide.

Suicide Prevention Strategy for England

Suicide is a devastating event. Its emotional and practical consequences are felt by family and friends and the many statutory and voluntary agencies involved in the provision of health and social care. Although the rate of suicide in England is not high in comparison with other countries in the European Union, the figures remain disturbing. On average, a person dies every two hours in England as a result of suicide. It is the commonest cause of death in men under 35. It is the main cause of premature death in people with mental illness.