Following the tragic death of a teenage boy who died by suicide after receiving his exam results, his parents made a devastating discovery.
Alex Henshaw, a 17-year-old from Winchester, Hampshire, took his own life in September 2024 after mistakenly believing he had failed his maths GCSE, per the Daily Mail.
But in a devastating twist, his grade was upgraded to a pass following a re-mark — news that tragically arrived just one day too late.
“He had been very distressed, he had just failed a GCSE maths paper,” his mother, Lisa Hamilton, said in a statement read during the inquest. “The re-mark came back as a pass, I got an email the next day.”
Alex, who had autism and ADHD, was already a force in the global gaming world — regularly ranking fifth in the world during online competitions. But his talents extended far beyond gaming.
Despite his challenges, Alex was excelling in his BTEC game design course at Basingstoke College of Technology. So much so, his tutor once called him in for questioning, assuming his work was too good to be true.
The inquest heard that Alex had big plans for his future — including a dream trip to Japan with his father and upcoming work experience at a game design company.
But on the morning of his death, his mother couldn’t unlock his bedroom door. In a panic, she called the fire brigade. Firefighters used a sledgehammer to break in. Inside, they found Alex’s body.
The official cause of death was compression of the neck from a ligature.
Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that Alex had also recently been told he would have to do a presentation in front of his class — something that reportedly caused him anxiety. Still, he left no note behind, and no warning signs.
Per the Sun, Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp concluded the act was a tragic impulse, telling the court: “I am in no doubt that this was a deliberate act, the reason for which I can't explain, there was no sign on the day or in the weeks prior that Alex would do anything of this kind. It was an impulsive act that could not have been prevented or predicted by his family.”
She continued: “It was quite obvious that Alex Henshaw was very gifted in the studies in which he was enrolled and was likely to have a bright future in the field he had chosen, he was regularly in the top 10 gamers in the world.”
Kemp went on: “Alex had enormous challenges, he had a number of conditions both physical and of a neurological nature. These would have affected not just his physical health but his ability to make friends, it is a credit to him that he managed in a society that is not always as sympathetic as it could be.
“For whatever reason, we will never know, he decided to end his life on the 10 September, 2024. I am very, very sorry for whatever it was that caused him to take the action he did.
“He was sadly pronounced deceased at his home… the conclusion is suicide.”
In her tribute, Lisa Hamilton remembered Alex as a joyful and optimistic teen who was excited about life.
“He was really looking forward to the next year,” she said. “Alex was excited about going to Japan with his father, he was happy despite having autism. He was doing so well at college.”
But she also spoke out about how broken support systems failed her family, slamming what she described as chronic underfunding of the NHS and the brutal fight for special educational support.
“The SEND system is like pushing a river uphill. I fought everyday to get them help,” she said. “I came up against the underfunding of the NHS which forced me to sell my belongings for private diagnosis and gastroenterology for Alex.”
Alex’s father shared his own grief, remembering their weekends together and the bond they had built.
“We had a good relationship, we would chat, cook, watch films,” he said. “Alex did not say anything was upsetting him, there were no signs. I miss my son very much, he was also my friend.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.