A STUDENT who feared he was suffering from an eating disorder hanged himself after smoking cannabis, an inquest heard.

Harry Yardley committed suicide at his home in Honeysuckle Close, Badger Farm, after writing comments in a notebook and posting a video of himself on YouTube.

Winchester coroner Grahame Short said the student’s use of cannabis may have influenced his decision to take his own life.

Harry was a first-year student at Winchester University.

The body of the 19-year-old Londoner was found on January 23 by one of his housemates, none of whom had seen or heard from him for several days.

In a statement read to the inquest student Amy Morgan said she last saw him on January 19.

She said: “He seemed very quiet. He was not his usual self and did not engage with me. He was dressed in a suit, which I felt was rather strange because I had never seen him in a suit before.”

One of the paramedics sent to the scene said he saw a suicide note in the student’s diary.

Outlining the results of a post-mortem Mr Short said there was no alcohol in the student’s body but he had recently smoked cannabis.

He said: “Harry had written a note in a book that had been carefully placed on the desk beside his bed. He believed he was suffering from bulimia. This may have been the case but there had been no formal medical diagnosis of this condition.”

Mr Short said the student had not shared his fears with his friends and family but added: “The note and the video both make it clear that this is what he believed. He had a perfectly normal stature and was misguided in this respect.”

Mr Short recorded a conclusion of suicide, adding: “He had smoked cannabis at some stage prior to his death and may have been affected mentally. It may be a potential explanation.”

The inquest was attended by the student’s heartbroken parents.

Mr Short told them: “I cannot think of anymore more devastating than learning that your son had died in these circumstances. There’s nothing I can say to console you.”

Speaking shortly after his death they referred to the “massive void” which had been left in their lives. They added: “Harry was gentle, loving, kind, caring, sensitive, fun-loving, charming, polite and quick-witted.

“He was, and still is, very much loved by his parents, sisters, family members, friends and everyone who was fortunate enough to know him.”