My son ended his life in the most heartbreaking of ways - and whilst we battled with grief a hidden nightmare began
Hours before taking his life, 19-year-old Leo Johnson sent his mother Jane a photo of the calm blue Devon sea. Tragically, on top of their overwhelming grief, Leo's family had another burden heaped upon them – the 'practical chaos' of closing his every account, from banking to bonds and social media. Determined to go to university, Leo chose Plymouth to study Oceanography, combining his love of science with his passion for the sea. After Leo's death Jane made a deliberate choice. The difficulty for Leo's family to go into his private world without his blessing felt huge.
Source: Daily Mail January 18, 2026 12:20 UTC
