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The mother of a young man who took his own life just days before Christmas has hit out at sick suicide websites.

Nathalie Arthur was horrified to discover that Connel had been able access specific information about techniques to kill himself in the days leading up to his death.

The 21-year-old, who was a student at Glasgow University, was found dead in the room where he had been staying in Reykjavik, Iceland, on December 19.

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His devastated family told how the talented guitar player had never shown signs of depression or mental health issues but had been worried about becoming homeless.

Connel, who was also a keen surfer and snowboarder, sent a message saying goodbye to his girlfriend and was found dead just a few hours later.

Mum-of-two Nathalie, who lives in Bannockburn near Stirling, is now calling for families to talk to their loved ones about mental health in a bid to save lives.

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The supermarket worker said: “Connel was full of life which is why this is all such a shock.

“He didn’t suffer from depression as far as we were concerned or aware. He’d moved to Iceland to do an erasmus year for his masters degree and had made lots of friends and got a job behind a bar.

“We were supposed to be going out to see him for New Year. We had a four day holiday booked from December 28 to January 1.

“He messaged me on the day he died asking me when we were going out there but he never got my replies.”

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After finding out Connel had died, Nathalie, his sister Chloe, 22, and Nathalie’s partner Tim Slack flew to Iceland on December 21 to bring him home.

But they were left reeling after finding Connel’s internet search history showed he had accessed dark suicide websites.

Nathalie said: “There is one main thing I want to address – Connel had been Google searching how to kill himself and was easily able to find the information.

“We went out there thinking it was a spur of the moment thing but there were all these searches from the days before.

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“There was a big fuss about eating disorder websites and self harm forums a few years ago.

“So why are these suicide websites not talked about and why is it available? It’s not okay. This information should not be there for people to access.”

Details of Connel’s final hours were discovered by his grieving family in the following days.

He had been watching unrelated YouTube videos before sending a goodbye message to his girlfriend at about 5:30pm.

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After tracking his phone, she raised the alarm and Connel was found by a friend at about 8pm but he had already passed away.

Nathalie has decided to speak out in a bid to raise awareness about mental health and suicide – particularly affecting young men aged between the age of 20-34.

She pleaded: “Go and talk to yours kids. Get them to talk to their friends. Ask them if they’re OK. Send a text, take somebody out for a coffee – that can buy precious time.

“The chaplain said that Connel could have thought about doing this on many occasions in the past and something might have stopped him – a phone call, anything.

“He had no outward history of depression. He loved life.

“He had struggled to find accommodation in Iceland and I think becoming homeless was a massive concern to him.

“I had a funny inkling that something wasn’t right, so I’d messaged him a couple of times that week asking if he was OK and he said he was fine.

“I don’t think he was reachable by that point – he knew what he was going to do.”

Connel’s family were able to spend time with him at the funeral home before bring his body home – including an emotional visit on Christmas Day.

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They will now cherish memories of the music lover and have issued a heartfelt thank you to all his friends who have supported them both in Scotland and Iceland.

Paying tribute to Connel, Nathalie said: “He was in a lot of university societies – surfing, snowboarding and wakeboarding.

“They’d have team trips away and he’d go every year.

“He never came home because he was just always too busy doing stuff, away with his friends.

“I’d always give him a row and tell him not to leave the country without telling me, and then I’d find out he’d been in Italy or something. I brought him up to be independent and then he went off and really was independent.

“He was the most empathetic child you could ever meet.

“He would always go and ask the girl who never got picked to dance and he’s got a cousin with cerebral palsy and was always the one to look after him.”

A memorial service will be held for Connel at Glasgow University Chapel on January 27 and will be lived streamed to his friends in Iceland.

The family are now raising funds in his memory which will be given to various mental health charities.

To donate, please visit www.gofundme.com/connel-arthur-a-life-legacy