John Cunniam, a lifelong Birmingham City fan and much-loved brother and son, was found dead by police after taking his own life, an inquest heard. Cunniam, 42, had struggled with his mental health, which worsened following the death of his father months earlier.
Described by family and friends as a “tortured soul,” Cunniam was discovered in the early hours of January 26 after his family raised concerns for his welfare. He was found dead in the bedroom of his flat just after 3am.
Assistant coroner Ian Dreelan concluded on Monday, July 15, that Cunniam had died by suicide after taking a fatal drug overdose alongside alcohol. “He was marking the end of a long and painful journey,” Dreelan said. “The combination of alcohol and heroin proved unsurvivable, and he would have died quickly after taking the heroin.”
Cunniam, a well-known member of the Sheldon community and a talented footballer, had battled mental health issues since 2015, including major depression with psychotic features and paranoid personality disorder. He experienced auditory hallucinations, hearing voices that worsened after witnessing his father’s sudden death at home.
In a heartfelt tribute at the inquest, his sister Michelle said, “John was my younger brother and one of four siblings. He was a kind and playful character and saw the best in everyone. On January 20 to 23, he was very distressed and drinking a lot of alcohol. The last time I spoke to him, he told me he was going to die.”
She added, “It was the frustration that nobody cared. He was crying out for help because he was still hallucinating. It was just a downward spiral continuously.”
Cunniam’s mother also spoke at the inquest, sharing her pain at seeing her son suffer. “John was a tortured soul and he was dependent on me. It was like I thought of him as still my child. A few days after dad died, he came into my room and said he could hear these voices, and it just got worse and worse and worse. He was so tormented, so afraid. It was really difficult to see my son suffering like this and to have lost my husband as well. He had given up.”
Mr. Dreelan expressed his condolences to Cunniam’s family, saying, “I hope you get the answers to the questions that still remain.
The death of John Cunniam has sparked touching tributes from the community, who remember him as a kind, thoughtful friend and a talented individual who struggled with immense personal pain.
