26-year-old actor Luke Westlake, who featured in the British psychological crime drama “Luther” alongside Idris Elba, died by suicide as he was out of work during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Westlake had apparently threatened to kill himself to his girlfriend the night before he actually died. Reports mention that the actor was stressed about being out of work and was suffering from a long-distance relationship breakdown. A toxicologist found a substantial amount of THC in his body. Assistant Coroner Michael Walsh talked about Westlake being abused as a child. "Luke was aged 26 years at the time of his death. He had a history of anxiety and depression and substantial misuse by way of alcohol and cannabis, used as a coping mechanism. He had reported childhood abuse and did not agree with plans of clinicians to deal with substance abuse before he had some treatment for trauma when he was younger," he was quoted as saying by a news agency.

The Coroner further added, "Luke found it difficult to deal with stressful triggers - his relationship and his employment. It was noted that it was not uncommon for him to threaten to harm himself - such an occasion occurred on June 17. He had threatened to take his life and he had taken cannabis shortly before he died."