LONDON - A man who apparently committed suicide while using an Internet chat room with other people died of hanging, police said Friday. The body of Kevin Whitrick, a father of two children, was found Wednesday night after a chat room user contacted police to report that the 42-year-old had "self-harmed" while online via a Webcam.
Whitrick, of Telford, a town in central England, was found hanged at his house after police were alerted.
In a statement released by police, Whitrick's ex-wife, who declined to be named, said: "Kevin was a loving father and family man. He was always the life and soul of the party, an extremely considerate and kind person and loved by many. He will be so sadly missed by us all."
Whitrick, who had 12-year-old twins, suffered a serious car accident in July 2006 and never returned to full health, his wife said.
Police said attempts to resuscitate Whitrick failed and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A police investigation was being conducted, but no one was being sought by police, they said.
Police Detective Chief Inspector Jon Groves said: "Whitrick was using an Internet chat room with a number of other people at the time of his death." Police have obtained Internet files for their investigation, he said.
