Student killed himself after £100 payday loan debt soared to £800

Swansea student Courtney Mitchell Lewis had made ‘a cry for help’, said the coroner

Swansea University physics undergraduate Courtney Mitchell Lewis died after taking 17 tablets at his flat in Swansea (Wales News Service)

A struggling student overdosed on slimming pills after taking out a payday loan which saw a £100 debt soar to £800 in just three months, an inquest has heard.

Courtney Mitchell Lewis made “a cry for help”, said the coroner, but the Swansea University physics undergraduate died after taking the tablets at his flat in Swansea.

The 21-year-old posted a message to friends on Facebook, alerting them by saying: “I don’t want to die, I think it is too late.” Colin Phillips, acting senior Swansea coroner, said: “Mitch was a loving and caring individual who was facing a number of personal problems.”

Mr Lewis worked as a barman but borrowed £100 from a payday loan company. The loan debt rapidly increased to £800 within three months.

The company offering the payday loan was not identified but it was investigated by police and operating legally.

After he took the pills, Mr Lewis' friends called the emergency services and he was taken to A&E, but died.

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