Westminster church assistant died by suicide, inquest finds

Keelan Shorten, a 23-year-old pastoral assistant at St Matthew’s Church in Westminster, died by suicide on October 7, 2025, an inquest has found. Senior Coroner for Inner West London Fiona Wilcox concluded that there were no failures in the circumstances leading up to his death.

Mr Shorten, who aspired to become an Anglican church minister, sent a message to his father at 7.47pm on October 7, 2025, stating his intention to end his life. The message indicated he felt he had "nothing left" following a relationship breakup. His father, who was in Ireland, contacted the police. Officers gained access to Mr Shorten's accommodation at 9.53pm and found him deceased. Life-saving efforts were made, but he was pronounced dead shortly before 11pm. The cause of death was hanging.

The inquest heard that Mr Shorten had a history of anxiety, depression, eating disorder issues, and epilepsy. He had previously attempted to end his life in 2021, an attempt which was intervened by his father. Coroner Wilcox noted that while Mr Shorten was in contact with mental health services, his GP, and loved ones, he was "not telling everybody the whole story".

Coroner Wilcox described Mr Shorten as an "absolutely delightful young man" who had achieved a great deal in his life. She noted praise for his intellectual capabilities and emotional empathy, and how much he was loved. His parents described him as a "beacon of light" and "our precious boy", highlighting his high expectations for himself and his self-critical nature. Friends and colleagues referred to him as a "force for good" and a "rising star".

Mr Shorten had recently been in contact with STRIDES, an NHS team supporting young people with eating disorders. The court heard he had set himself extremely high standards and had a history of self-harm scars dating from between the ages of 13 and 17.