Sam Coutts sitting in a chair, looking out a window.

THE body of a “kind and loving” teen was found in the toilets of his college after being reported missing by his family.

An inquest into the student’s death reveals there were concerns for his welfare before the sad discovery was made.
Sam Coutts sitting in a chair, looking out a window.A-level student Sam Coutts, 18, passed away in the toilets at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form CollegeCredit: North News & Pictures Ltd
Sam Coutts, an A-level student, was found on January 13 at Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College in Darlington.

Emergency services were called to the scene but the 18-year-old tragically died.

On Tuesday, an inquest hearing was held at Crooks Coroners’ Court to understand the circumstances leading up to Sam’s death.

The Coroners’ officer Bradley King told the hearing: “I understand the circumstances to be that Sam was found dead in the toilets of his college.”

His devastated family described Sam as a humorous and good-natured boy.

Sam’s mother, Kirsten Coutts, 48, was present at the inquest, and said that prior to his death, Sam had retreated into himself.

She said: “He had started to withdraw a little bit. He even told me that I was neurotypical and couldn’t understand – but we had tried so hard to understand his own unique ways.”

The mum of four told the court that Sam had been studying biology, psychology and applied science.

She said that Sam had wanted to change many aspects of himself but still remained “our beautiful boy”.

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“Autistic people can be isolated and lonely and they can’t always articulate what they are feeling or why they are feeling a certain way,” Kristen added.

“People really need to think about the impact their words can have on people – to them it might just be a throwaway comment, but it has the drip, drip effect on others.”

The Senior Coroner Jeremy Chipperfield adjourned the inquest until March 18.