British judo star tipped for Olympic glory hangs himself with own black belt
A British judo star tipped for success at the 2012 Olympics hanged himself with his own black belt after struggling to get over splitting from his girlfriend, an inquest heard.
Firefighter Robert 'Robbie' Gallacher, 23, was so talented in martial arts he was listed as one of the amateur sportsmen expected to shine during the London Olympics. He was known across the judo world for fighting in the 66kg weight category and was one of Britain's top judo competitors in 2005, when he was in the British junior squad.
But an inquest heard he had secretly been battling depression after splitting with the mother of his daughter - and in the early hours of New Year's Day he was found dead in his home in Mold, North Wales.