A BBC Bafta-winner Daniel Postgate was discovered dead in his shed at the age of 61 after an inquest determined he had committed suicide while battling a number of medical conditions.
BAFTA-winning writer Daniel Postgate was found dead at his home just hours after receiving a letter from the NHS, an inquest has heard.
The 61-year-old writer and illustrator, who brought modern versions of The Clangers to a new generation, was found dead in the shed of his Whitstable home in June. An inquest this week has revealed the heartbreaking sequence of events leading to his death, centering on a “worrying letter” from the NHS and a final message left for his family.
Some of his most popular books include Smelly Bill, Engelbert Sneem and His Dream Vacuum Machine, and Big Mum Plum. Alongside Bagpuss co-creator Peter Firmin, Daniel was praised for relaunching CBeebies’ The Clangers, which shot to popularity between 2015 and 2020. The show took home a British Academy Children’s Award for Best Pre-School Animation. Here, we take a look at the events leading up to his death on June 27.
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NHS letter
Daniel had battled aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of blood cancer, for many years. He had to go through chemotherapy in 2019, which appeared to have been a long journey. A letter from the NHS arrived just one day before he committed suicide.
The correspondence revealed that there was a possibility of the cancer to return despite the confirmation that his treatment had gone well. This possibility appeared to be too much of a burden for Daniel, who had a history of depression and anxiety for 40 years.
Daniel was “afraid my illness can’t be cured,” according to a report prepared by his family for the coroner.
call made with my brother
Daniel’s final interactions revealed little about the depth of his despair despite the internal turmoil caused by the letter. His brother, Simon Postgate, gave accounts of their most recent phone call to the Maidstone inquest.
According to Simon, “I believe he had a thought out, but I’m not certain for sure.” He was “quite chatty, quite chatty, and fairly relaxed,” he said. Sometimes it was difficult to determine his mental state.
Daniel had been living alone after splitting up with his 35-year-partner, who had two children.
Note for the family
It was obvious that Daniel had intended to bid him fare when he was found. According to the inquest, he wrote in a note for his loved ones that read, “I hope you all have wonderful lives, and remember to love each other.”
Coroner Sarah Clarke noted the intentionality of his choices when she came to the suicide conclusion. In response to the family’s grief, she said, “I don’t think it’s a question that can ever be answered.” He claims to be performing a deliberate act. He is not willing to go through with the treatment.
If you’re struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
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Source: Mirror
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