A LYMM man killed himself in a mystery suicide, an inquest heard.

Andrew Cooke was found hanged at his Thornley Close home by partner Kerry Graves on January 15.

At Warrington Coroner’s Court on Thursday family members struggled to explain the 25-year-old’s shock decision to take his own life.

Mum Colette Nelson, from Irlam, said her son had wanted to join the RAF as a pilot after leaving university but was turned down for medical reasons.

She said: “Becoming a pilot was something he was always interested in.

“Because he had suspected asthma he didn’t make it.

“They said come back in three years and they would consider him again.”

But when the time came for another application in late 2010, Mr Cooke became ill once more.

The inquest heard he contracted tonsillitis and became disillusioned about ever joining the air force.

His job as a data analyst became more permanent.

“He thought his chance had gone for another three years and that got him down,” said Mrs Nelson.

Work colleagues said that Mr Cooke had been distracted on the day of his death, but assumed it was because he was busy.

But at 11pm that evening music teacher Ms Graves returned from a pantomime to find her partner.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said he was ‘completely at a loss’ to explain the death.

Outside court relatives paid tribute.

His uncle Steve Cooke, from Culcheth, described his nephew’s passion for playing in the Cadishead Band.

He had also played the cornet during his uncle’s wedding.

And Mrs Nelson said her son was ‘dearly missed’ by his family.

She said: “He was a happy, caring, sensitive person who just wanted to help all of the time.”

Mr Cooke added that the family had received support from voluntary group Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide.