Photographer to the stars who was pals with Rita Ora, Kylie Minogue and One Direction died from lethal dose of ‘liquid ecstasy’
Heartbroken Matt Irwin, 36, was depressed after splitting from his boyfriend, a coroner hears
A PHOTOGRAPHER whose showbiz pals included Rita Ora, Kylie Minogue and members of One Direction killed himself with a lethal dose of a party drug known as liquid ecstasy after splitting from his boyfriend, an inquest heard.
Matt Irwin, 36, said he could no longer "look himself in the mirror" in a suicide note on his laptop before taking a lethal dose of GHB.
Friends said he had become depressed after breaking up with his boyfriend, who went back to a previous partner.
He was found dead at his flat in Hackney, East London, Poplar coroner's court heard.
Friend Samantha Teasdale told in a statement how she and two other friends arrived at the apartment to find the front door unlocked and Mr Irwin inside.
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Paramedics were called but he could not be saved.
Ms Teasdale said Mr Irwin had “a lot of friends” but had become depressed after his relationship ended.
The celeb snapper started taking photographs after being given a camera by a friend when he was 15, the inquest heard.
Among the stars who paid tribute to him following his death in May was Rita Ora, 25, who shared a picture of them online and wrote: “Matthew Irwin, you were always smiling, I’m so lucky to have known you, and shooting so many fun things together.”
One Direction star Harry Styles was among those who attended Mr Irwin’s funeral.
Coroner Jacqueline Devonish said of the "open letter to the world" on his laptop: “He describes depression as brutal.
"He writes that ‘as a guy you really can’t say you’re not coping’. He couldn’t look at himself in the mirror.”
She added: “It is clear that he was depressed. He did however say in that note that he did wish he was dead.”
Verdict: suicide.
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