ianstone
07-15-2010, 10:21 AM
Father of four killed himself and disabled son after wife's sudden death
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 8:26 AM on 15th July 2010
Comments (14) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html#comments)
[/URL]
A loving father killed himself and his disabled son after the unexpected death of his wife following a minor operation.
After an inquest today the couple's other sons spoke of the marvellous way their mother and father had cared for 38-year-old Lincoln.
Dean Gigg said his father Sonnie and mother June had dedicated their lives to Lincoln. 'I think that after her death, Dad did not feel he would be able to do it all on his own, and he decided to take the burden away from the rest of the family,' he said.
'He didn't want us to have to go through everything that he and mum had gone through for more than 30 years.'
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/15/article-1294864-0A6FD48F000005DC-591_468x384.jpg Killed in car crash: Sonnie Gigg and his disabled son Lincoln both died when the car sunk
The inquest at Shire Hall in Gloucester heard that Mr Gigg, 70, of Coalpit Heath, near Bristol, drove his car into the dock basin at Sharpness on the River Severn when the tide was full.
Both he and Lincoln were strapped into their seats and the car's windows were open, Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore was told.
Mrs June Gigg had died just the day before following complications during a simple operation, the inquest heard.
Sharpness Dock watchman Andrew Stewart was in a watch tower on October 8, 2007, when he saw a dark car speed through gates onto the edge of the dock and then launch out into the tidal basin.
It took him 20 or 30 seconds to get to the spot but there was no sign of the car. He said it had been travelling at speed and there was no sign of it slowing down.
Pc Michael Purnell said it was necessary to wait for the tide to go out before the car could be recovered and in the meantime, items were recovered from the water including a wallet containing a disabled vehicle permit in the name of Sonnie Gigg.
Also recovered were a pink envelope addressed to June Gigg and a jacket with the name Lincoln Gigg on the label.
A small terrier dog was also recovered but it had drowned.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/15/article-1294864-0A6FD4B9000005DC-466_468x694.jpg Triple tragedy: June Gigg died suddenly following a minor operation, causing her husband to take his own life and that of the couple's disabled son, Lincoln
He said a dockside crane recovered the car and there were two men inside, one in the driver?s seat and the other in the rear passenger seat.
'Both were strapped in by seatbelts and the car's windows were all open,' he said.
Neil Gigg said he was one of four brothers and his mother June had passed away at Frenchay Hoispital the previous day.
'We were all very shocked at her death. My parents shared looking after Lincoln who is registered disabled, dressing and washing him every day. It was a lot of work,' he said.
That morning he had gone to his father's house while Lincoln was at a day centre, and he had not been there.
'He wasn't thinking straight and I thought he might harm himself. Later, after he came home, I thought he had sorted himself out,' he said.
His father took the two terrier dogs out for a walk after Lincoln arrived home by bus and seemed OK so Neil went home.
One of dogs was in the car and drowned in the basin.
Coordinator at the day centre attended by Lincoln Janet Lovell, said he did not like change and had been upset when his mother went into hospital.
'I saw Sonnie drop Lincoln off that day and it appeared they had both been crying,' she said. 'They were a very loving and close family and they would do anything for Lincoln.'
Mr Crickmore said both men had died from drowning and he felt sure that both dogs had been in the car even though only one was found.
'Mr Gigg was anxious as to how he was going to cope without his wife and this was fundamental to his actions,' he said. 'I am satisfied that that he deliberately drove his vehicle into the dock out of a sense of hopelessness and he took with him the three things he cared for - his dear son and the two dogs.
'I am satisfied Mr Sonnie Gigg killed himself and that Lincoln was unlawfully killed.'
Read more: [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html#ixzz0tlDuy6Zf (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html)
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 8:26 AM on 15th July 2010
Comments (14) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html#comments)
[/URL]
A loving father killed himself and his disabled son after the unexpected death of his wife following a minor operation.
After an inquest today the couple's other sons spoke of the marvellous way their mother and father had cared for 38-year-old Lincoln.
Dean Gigg said his father Sonnie and mother June had dedicated their lives to Lincoln. 'I think that after her death, Dad did not feel he would be able to do it all on his own, and he decided to take the burden away from the rest of the family,' he said.
'He didn't want us to have to go through everything that he and mum had gone through for more than 30 years.'
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/15/article-1294864-0A6FD48F000005DC-591_468x384.jpg Killed in car crash: Sonnie Gigg and his disabled son Lincoln both died when the car sunk
The inquest at Shire Hall in Gloucester heard that Mr Gigg, 70, of Coalpit Heath, near Bristol, drove his car into the dock basin at Sharpness on the River Severn when the tide was full.
Both he and Lincoln were strapped into their seats and the car's windows were open, Gloucestershire Coroner Alan Crickmore was told.
Mrs June Gigg had died just the day before following complications during a simple operation, the inquest heard.
Sharpness Dock watchman Andrew Stewart was in a watch tower on October 8, 2007, when he saw a dark car speed through gates onto the edge of the dock and then launch out into the tidal basin.
It took him 20 or 30 seconds to get to the spot but there was no sign of the car. He said it had been travelling at speed and there was no sign of it slowing down.
Pc Michael Purnell said it was necessary to wait for the tide to go out before the car could be recovered and in the meantime, items were recovered from the water including a wallet containing a disabled vehicle permit in the name of Sonnie Gigg.
Also recovered were a pink envelope addressed to June Gigg and a jacket with the name Lincoln Gigg on the label.
A small terrier dog was also recovered but it had drowned.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/07/15/article-1294864-0A6FD4B9000005DC-466_468x694.jpg Triple tragedy: June Gigg died suddenly following a minor operation, causing her husband to take his own life and that of the couple's disabled son, Lincoln
He said a dockside crane recovered the car and there were two men inside, one in the driver?s seat and the other in the rear passenger seat.
'Both were strapped in by seatbelts and the car's windows were all open,' he said.
Neil Gigg said he was one of four brothers and his mother June had passed away at Frenchay Hoispital the previous day.
'We were all very shocked at her death. My parents shared looking after Lincoln who is registered disabled, dressing and washing him every day. It was a lot of work,' he said.
That morning he had gone to his father's house while Lincoln was at a day centre, and he had not been there.
'He wasn't thinking straight and I thought he might harm himself. Later, after he came home, I thought he had sorted himself out,' he said.
His father took the two terrier dogs out for a walk after Lincoln arrived home by bus and seemed OK so Neil went home.
One of dogs was in the car and drowned in the basin.
Coordinator at the day centre attended by Lincoln Janet Lovell, said he did not like change and had been upset when his mother went into hospital.
'I saw Sonnie drop Lincoln off that day and it appeared they had both been crying,' she said. 'They were a very loving and close family and they would do anything for Lincoln.'
Mr Crickmore said both men had died from drowning and he felt sure that both dogs had been in the car even though only one was found.
'Mr Gigg was anxious as to how he was going to cope without his wife and this was fundamental to his actions,' he said. 'I am satisfied that that he deliberately drove his vehicle into the dock out of a sense of hopelessness and he took with him the three things he cared for - his dear son and the two dogs.
'I am satisfied Mr Sonnie Gigg killed himself and that Lincoln was unlawfully killed.'
Read more: [URL]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html#ixzz0tlDuy6Zf (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1294864/Father-killed-disabled-son-wifes-sudden-death-inquest-finds.html)