THE shock of footballer Gary Speed’s death has dominated the news for a week.

Not a day seems to go by without an interview or comment from a stunned friend who saw no reason to suspect he may have been troubled.

Many have voiced utter disbelief that a 42-year-old man who was apparently happy and successful may have taken his own life.

It has been described as a mystery and many, inevitably, expect to find out there was an specific event, an argument, a reason – something that tipped him over the edge on the morning of his death.

That may be true – or it may not.

Only time will tell.

Sadly, though, despite the headlines I don’t believe this is a great mystery to be solved.

Quite simply, his friends were wrong. They must have been.

He cannot have been happy and carefree in the hours before his death because if he were he would not have done it.

He clearly hid his torment exceptionally well – even from those closest to him.

Yet that doesn’t surprise me much either.

In this job we attend many inquests and – almost without exception – the families of those who take their own lives had no clue their loved ones intended to do it.

Even those who knew their loved one had money worries, illnesses or fears simply did not realise the situation was so dire.

If they had even the slightest inkling they might take such a terrible decision, they would probably have never left their side.

And it seems to be less surprising to me that a talented man with proven drive and determination was able to keep his real state of mind a secret than a so-called ordinary person.

Tragically, that also suggests it will be difficult to uncover exactly what was going through his mind towards the end – which will be horrible for his family and his friends.

They will wonder if they could have foreseen his death, but the answer is probably no.

It is a frightening reminder to all of us that none of us can read minds – even those of our nearest and dearest.

And also a prompt to reach out to loved ones – even if they seem perfectly okay.

But it’s not a mystery.

Just a tragedy.