A young man man changed his Facebook status to “the afterlife” before committing suicide.

Leo Knapp posted a message to friends on the social networking site saying “goodbye everyone” before killing himself.

Leo, who was due to turn 21 three days after his death, had never recovered from the death of his mother when he was eight, an inquest into his death was told yesterday (August 22).

His worried friends called police after seeing the message, but the carbon monoxide fumes from the barbecues had already claimed his life by the time officers arrived at the home in Borough Street, Brighton, that he shared with his father.

Toxicology expert Andrew Smith told the inquest that even if the alarm had been raised earlier the level of carboxyhaemoglobin in the 20-year-old’s blood was so high he could never have recovered.

A friend had texted Leo moments before he fell unconscious urging him to get in touch.

Police found a half written on Leo’s iPhone, lying on the bed beside him.

Recording a verdict of suicide Brighton and Hove Coroner Veronica Hamilton Deeley said: “I would like Leo’s friends and family to be aware that they shouldn’t think that if they had done something sooner he could have been saved.

“It is very clear from the evidence that even if the police had been told and they had arrived an hour earlier Leo could not have been revived.

“It is clear he made the decisIf you are thinking about suicide you should:

• Call the Samaritans support service on 08457 90 90 90

• Contact your GPion he was going to take his life and he did.”