A DEVOTED dad sent a heartbreaking final text to his partner and children before taking his life on the Thelwall Viaduct.

Michael Biggar, from Bolton, had done the school run on the morning of January 17 and apart from experiencing the side effects of shingles, he had not shown any signs of feeling depressed.

Cheshire Coroner's Court sitting in Warrington heard today, Monday how the 45-year-old parked his black BMW on the hard shoulder of the M6 southbound carriageway on before getting out of the driver's side and falling from the bridge.

Michael had visited Stonehill Medical Centre in Farnworth a week before his death.

He told the nurse he was experiencing shingles and feeling stressed because of it so he was treated for the virus.

Four days later, he returned to the medical centre as the shingles had not improved and he was struggling to sleep.

He was prescribed Zopiclone to help him sleep.

The car salesman, who previously worked at Audi in Westbrook for three years, was the proud dad to his two-year-old daughter Ariana and 10-year-old stepdaughter Alyssa with his partner Kalissta Taylor.

Evidence from Kalissta was read out in court.

She said: "He got up that morning at 7.30am to do the school run then came back to bed saying he was tired.

"He looked pale and had been off work all week due to the shingles.

"I said I needed to go to Tesco but he could not decide whether he wanted to come or not.

"I left at 12.30pm and said I would see him later.

"At 1.44pm I got a text from Michael saying 'you and my kids are my world. Let Arianna know how much I love her and let her remember me as a good dad'."

Despite her desperate attempts to contact Michael, from Farnworth near Bolton, Kalissta was unable to get through to him and he fell from the bridge just two minutes later.

She added: "He was a brilliant father to his daughter and also to my other child.

"Michael was not only my partner, he was my best friend and I miss him so much."

Lancashire Telegraph:

Michael with family members

PC Ian Anderson was one of the first emergency service workers on the scene and later reviewed 'distressing' dashcam footage from passing cars.

He told the court: "One lorry sounded his horn when he saw what was happening and other cars pulled into the hard shoulder straightaway.

"I hope that there can be a review into ways of accessing that part of Manchester Ship Canal more quickly.

"It is a very difficult and muddy area of the canal and perhaps an easier location for entering the water can be found.

"Many people are becoming depressed and anxious and if we can do anything to help before or get to them more quickly after an attempt to end their life we could help save more people."

Coroner Heath Westerman ruled Michael's death as a result of suicide and gave his 'sincere condolences' to Michael's family and friends.

He added: "I hope a consultation with the fire service into how best to get to this area can take place and any lessons can be learnt."

Michael grew up in Ashton in Makerfield with his mum, dad Tony and three brothers David, Peter and Rob.

At the time of his death, his family made a public plea to remind everyone that ‘it’s ok not to be ok’ in the hope of preventing another family from suffering the same heartache.

His brother Rob wrote on Facebook:

"He just got out the car and jumped off, no hesitation, no cry for help, no waiting for someone to grab him or talk him out of it, he just did it.

“There’s so many questions. Why? What was going on in his head? Questions that will forever be unanswered.

“My family is devastated by this and will never ever get over it. It still seems so unreal and nothing has sunk in yet really.

“We love you so much Michael and I’m going to miss you forever and I wish I could have just done something, been there more for you, but I/we never knew he was feeling this bad or what was truly going on in his brain.

Lancashire Telegraph:

“It’s unbearable and unbelievable to think I’ll never ever see you again, never hear your voice or laugh again and more to the point your little girl will never know her daddy and how much he really did truly love her, you were all he ever wanted.

“If you are feeling so low that you feel there is no way out and could ever contemplate taking your own life, please talk to someone, anyone, because the devastation that you leave behind is unmeasurable.

“And before you think or say that suicide is selfish, it’s not.

“Suicide is death caused by the illness of depression, it’s the final symptom – a final collapse under an unbearable weight that you can not move.

“Suicide is a tragedy and if you’ve never been close to that edge, then try not to judge what you will never understand."

If you have been affected by this story and would like to talk to someone then call Samaritans for free from any phone on 116123.

Alternatively Papyrus, dedicated to helping people under 35 at risk of suicide, via its HopelineUK service.

Visit papyrus-uk.org/hopelineuk/ or call 0800 068 4141, text 07786209697 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org