TRIGGER WARNING: This article discusses suicide.
A coroners inquest has cast doubt onto whether The Prodigy singer Keith Flint’s death was a suicide.
Keith Flint was found dead at his home in Essex on March 4th earlier this year. A postmortem examination has revealed that Flint died by hanging and had an unspecified amount of cocaine, alcohol and codeine in his system at the time of death.
Caroline Beasley-Murray, Senior Coroner for Essex recorded an open conclusion into his death, concluding that there was not enough evidence to say he had taken his own life.
“I’ve considered suicide. To record that, I would have to have found that, on the balance of probabilities, Mr Flint formed the idea and took a deliberate action knowing it would result in his death,” Beasley-Murray explained of her conclusion.
“Having regard to all the circumstances I don’t find that there’s enough evidence for that.”
The coroner shared that there was also insufficient evidence to conclude that the singer’s death was an accident, where he may have been “larking around and it all went horribly wrong”.
“I’m going to conclude an open conclusion,” she stated. “We will never quite know what was going on in his mind on that date and so that’s why I’m going to record an open conclusion.”
Watch The Prodigy ‘Firestarter’
Yesterday, remaining bandmates in The Prodigy took to social media to share a statement on mental health in light of Mental Health Awareness Month.
“It has been a tough time for everyone over the last few weeks since Keef’s passing,” the band shared on Instagram. “If you are struggling with depression, addiction or the impact of suicide, please do not suffer in silence. The Prodigy fully support the campaign to improve mental health for all and give it the respect it deserves.”
If you or someone you know needs help there are a number of immediately contactable hotlines that you can call:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- QLife on 1800 184 527
