The transgender child of a Fast Show actor took their own life after a ‘traumatic’ stint in hospital, an inquest heard.
Cal Shearer, 25, was found hanged at home in Oxford on October 30.
The Neuroscience PHD student’s famous father Paul Shearer starred on the comedy series The Fast Show between 1994 to 1997.
He paid tribute to Cal, who was also autistic, at an inquest into the Oxford University student’s death.
Paul said: ‘There were many facets to their personality. After their death, Cal’s mum in a social media post said they were brave, beautiful and compassionate.
‘They were capable of warmth and love. They spent many hours helping at Oxford Nightline.
‘Cal’s death was a tragedy and incomprehensible to those around them.’
The 25-year-old had a ‘long battle’ with suicidal thoughts and spent two ‘traumatic’ months in hospital last March, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard.
Cal Shearer, 25, was was found hanged at home in Oxford on October 30
The transgender child of a Fast Show actor took their own life after a ‘traumatic’ stint in hospital, an inquest heard
The Neuroscience PHD student’s famous father Paul Shearer starred on the comedy series The Fast Show between 1994 to 1997
Cal took their own life after battling to find the right treatment in what their family described as the ‘all too prevalent but not yet understood crisis of suicides amongst autistic people identifying as trans’.
The family launched a complaint with the Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust over the handling of their child’s care, saying there should have been more done to account for Cal’s autism.
Dr Stephen Merson, a consultant psychiatrist at the Trust, strongly denied that the care team had been ‘dismissive’ of Cal’s autism, when asked at the inquest.
He replied: ‘No. We are improving our awareness of the implications of autism. I don’t think we ignored the risk aspect.’
Cal, who was raised in Bethnal Green, London, met their NHS worker wife Imogen Voysey-Shearer when they were seven-years-old classmates attending the private City of London School for Girls in 2006.
Imogen told the inquest she did not think the mental health team knew how to provide adequate support to her partner.
She added: ‘Cal was someone who everyone liked. They helped others in so many ways.
‘Cal was kind, funny and compassionate. Cal was liked in every area of their life, but felt their death was inevitable.
The 25-year-old had a ‘long battle’ with suicidal thoughts and spent two ‘traumatic’ months in hospital last March, Oxford Coroner’s Court heard
The family launched a complaint with the Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust over the handling of their child’s care, saying there should have been more done to account for Cal’s autism
‘Cal’s passing is a tragic loss to everyone who knew them,’ a family tribute on the page read
‘Coming home to Cal was the best part of my day. We played Minecraft together.
‘Cal had a long history of difficulties with their mental health. Cal had a rough time getting up in the morning and struggled going into the lab.’
Cal’s final note, left to family and friends, read: ‘I love you and I know how loved I am. I am lucky to have so much love surrounding me.’
Area coroner Nicholas Graham recorded a verdict of suicide and offered his condolences to the heartbroken family.
He added: ‘Concerns have been raised around Cal’s mental health care and treatment.
‘The trust has accepted failings in these areas. It was accepted there was an absence of a documented care plan.
‘The failings contributed to a deterioration in Cal’s mental health which ultimately lead to their death.’
Their mother is Vicky Licorish, who presented Saturday SuperStore in the 1980s alongside Keith Chegwin and DJ Mike Reid.
Area coroner Nicholas Graham recorded a verdict of suicide and offered his condolences to the heartbroken family
Their mother is Vicky Licorish, who presented Saturday SuperStore in the 1980s alongside Keith Chegwin and DJ Mike Reid. She paid an emotional tribute to ‘our beautiful Cal’ as she shared on social media a series of happy family photographs featuring her youngest child
A memorial page set up for the student has raised thousands of pounds for The Samaritans and Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led charity working to improve gender diversity and the lives of trans people
Cal’s final note, left to family and friends, read: ‘I love you and I know how loved I am. I am lucky to have so much love surrounding me’
She paid an emotional tribute to ‘our beautiful Cal’ as she shared on social media a series of happy family photographs featuring her youngest child.
The film producer wrote: ‘Our brave, beautiful, blazingly clever, wickedly funny and endlessly compassionate Cal sadly lost their battle with mental health this week. There are no words.’
A memorial page set up for the student has raised thousands of pounds for The Samaritans and Gendered Intelligence, a trans-led charity working to improve gender diversity and the lives of trans people.
‘Cal’s passing is a tragic loss to everyone who knew them,’ a family tribute on the page read. ‘They had so much to offer, but the pain of their inner turmoil proved too great for them to bear.
‘Many walked beside Cal during the years they privately struggled with their mental health. Imogen, Cal’s long term friend, then partner and, last year, wife never left their side.
‘Now working for the NHS, Imogen tried to secure Cal the right treatment for this all too prevalent but not yet understood crisis of suicides amongst autistic people identifying as trans.’
The tragedy came a week after an inquest held for fellow Oxford student Alexander Rogers found the 20-year-old killed himself in January after being ostracised by his social circle at Corpus Christi College in an episode described as ‘cancel culture‘.
He had sex with a female friend who told other male students she had felt ‘discomfort’ about the encounter, a coroner heard.
Cal’s wife old the inquest she did not think the mental health team knew how to provide adequate support to her partner
The tragedy came a week after an inquest held for fellow Oxford student Alexander Rogers found the 20-year-old killed himself in January after being ostracised by his social circle at Corpus Christi College in an episode described as ‘cancel culture’
The undergraduate jumped into the River Thames from Donnington Bridge and died from serious head injuries. Pictured: Oxford University
Despite having no intentions of reporting the incident, two male friends confronted the third year student, telling Alexander he had ‘messed up’ and they ‘needed space from him’.
The next day, the undergraduate jumped into the River Thames from Donnington Bridge and died from serious head injuries.
An inquiry into his death found that Alexander, who was described as the ‘epitome of what is good in this world’, found students at the college were quick to ‘rush to judgement’ and would ‘pile on’ to cancel a student without knowing all the facts.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
