Ruslan Gutu hanged himself from a tree because he was too worried to tell them about the accident, an inquest heard

A teenage gymnast was found hanged in the woods after telling his girlfriend how worried he was about telling his parents he had crashed the brand new car they had bought him, an inquest heard.

Athena La told the coroner that boyfriend Ruslan Gutu, 18, was 'shaking' as he told her he was worried about how he would pay for the damage to his car after crashing it into a Land Rover.

Later on he was found hanged in nearby woodland in his hometown in Bracknell, Berkshire, hours after sending his mother a chilling text saying soon he would be 'watching from above'.

Miss La said: 'He told me he had been driving his car which was new and had crashed it into a Land Rover. He was shaking as he told me. It was brand new and he seemed really worried.

'He didn't want to tell his parents and he was worried about how he was going to pay for the damage.

'The car seemed to be the only worry but he said he was lonely. I told him he had his family, me and his friends. When I mentioned his friends he became quite upset. I think he had alienated them due to his changes in mood.

'He asked me if I had any rope or paracetamol and asked how much paracetamol it would take to overdose. I told him he was being stupid. He left at around 6am.'

Ruslan's body was later discovered by a park ranger who was accompanying a tree surgeon at the area in Bracknell, Berkshire, near where he lived.

Toxicology tests confirmed a small amount of the drug methadone was found in his body but the coroner ruled it had not affected his judgement.

A statement from his mother, Aliana, was read out by assistant Berkshire coroner Ravi Sidhu.

It said: 'At around midnight he (Ruslan) sent me a text message saying he was staying at a girl's house.

'At around 6am I received a text from him saying 'I am sorry to have left you with everything but it is better this way. I will be watching from above. I don't know why he would take his own life.'

The talented young gymnast (pictured) used a blue rope to hang himself in woodland in his home town after crashing the car his parents had bought him less than a month earlier

Ranger Mark Symmons said: 'I saw a figure below the trees which I initially thought was a mannequin but I saw its head at a strange angle so I thought that maybe it was a person with a disability. As I walked closer I realised the person was dead.'

Police cut down the 18-year-old and paramedics at the scene confirmed he had died.

He didn't want to tell his parents and he was worried about how he was going to pay for the damage Athena La, girlfriend

Coroner Mr Sidhu said: 'He made reference to rope, to being low in mood and I don't think the impact of the road traffic collision can be discounted and the degree with which he will have been worried about telling his parents. He was concerned and I did think that affected him.

'There is enough evidence to record that he took his own life. It was an untimely death at just 18 years old.'

Bracknell Gymnastics Club, where Ruslan was a member, paid tribute to him in the days after his death.

It said: 'The club is deeply saddened to report the passing of Ruslan Gutu. Ruslan was one of the most talented people to ever grace our club and competed as part of the original Kites (Junior Boys TeamGym).

'Even after he left the club he would drop in and say hello from time to time to show off his skills or just to support his little brother.

'We are so sorry for their loss and will cherish our memories of Ruslan.'