Jai Palermo, 13, took his own life, inquest hears

An inquest has begun into the death of Jai Palermo, 13, in Pembrokeshire

A "happy-go-lucky, adventurous" teenager took his own life at a field near his home, an inquest has heard.

Jai Palermo, 13, from Hook, Pembrokeshire, went missing on 22 January 2020.

An inquest at Haverfordwest County Court heard he had ADHD and dyspraxia and suffered with sleeping difficulties from the age of six.

His mother Nia Owen said: "He was very busy from a young age, would give anything a go, had no fear."

He was in the Scouts, and a kayaking club and had plans to see his dad and to go on his first date with his girlfriend on the weekend following his death.

At the inquest on Monday, coroner's officer Carrie Sheridan said on the evening before his death, Jai went to his grandmother Shelagh Owen's house after school, where his younger sister Lexi also was.

There was "some confusion" on where they were to be picked up later that evening, which caused a row between Jai and his mother, so Lexi went home with their mum, and Jai's grandmother took him to the house later on.

When they arrived at the house in Hook, Shelagh shouted that she had dropped Jai off, assuming he had entered through the back door.

However, he had not.

'Complete shock'

It was not until Jai's stepdad, Ben, returned home at about 19:50 GMT, and called Nia's mother to check in on Jai, that they discovered he was at neither house.

What followed was a search of the area, with police officers and then the coastguard called to assist.

He was found at 02:45 GMT on 23 January, and his death was considered by police to be "sudden and unexplained" with "nothing to suggest foul play or third party involvement".

Nia Owen said she was informed by a police officer that her son had taken his own life.

"I just fell to the floor," said Nia.

"I was in complete shock. He was so close [to home].

"He was just a child. He was happy, he was loved, he was given everything."

Nia said her son would become "quiet and withdrawn" when on his ADHD medication, and so at the weekend she would often lower the dose she gave to him.

She said she had noticed him being a bit quieter in the weeks before his death, but thought it was a "teenage thing".

"I just thought it was hormones. He was changing a lot physically," she said.

She expressed concern that she had not been "properly educated" on possible side effects of his medication.

The inquest continues.

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