A 31-year-old teacher who wanted to prevent his hair loss tragically took his own life in Dubai after switching to a powerful drug not licensed for treating baldness in the UK, an inquest has heard.
Sam Applegarth, a PE teacher from Outwood near Wakefield, was found hanged in his apartment on September 19, 2024, just five weeks after arriving in the emirate.
The Wakefield coroner's court heard that Applegarth had begun taking dutasteride, described as "more powerful" than the hair-loss medications he had previously used.
Despite having no history of mental health problems or self-harm, and being described by family as a "bright and happy individual", the teacher's death was ruled a suicide by coroner Oliver Longstaff.
A 31-year-old teacher who wanted to prevent his hair loss tragically took his own life in Dubai after switching to a powerful drug not licensed for treating baldness in the UK, an inquest has heard
Applegarth had been concerned about his hair loss since 2015, when he was just 22 years old. He sought help from Dr Bessam Farjo at a trichology clinic in Manchester.
For years, he had successfully used minoxidil, available over the counter, and finasteride without experiencing side effects.
He also underwent a hair transplant at the Farjo Hair Institute in Manchester.
The teacher had his scalp tattooed to create the appearance of hair and received platelet-rich plasma treatment.
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Sam Applegarth was found hanged in his apartment on in September last year
Dr Farjo told the inquest: "He was happy with the overall appearance after the tattoo."
However, Dr Farjo described him as "a young man with an exaggerated view about how big an issue his hair loss was" and had advised cognitive therapy to address his anxiety about going bald.
At his last consultation in July 2024, two months before flying to Dubai, Applegarth was still taking tablets and using camouflage products to conceal his hair loss.
Dr Farjo told the inquest: "I had no concerns he was having any side effects from the drugs."
The Wakefield coroner's court heard that Applegarth had begun taking dutasteride
The doctor was unaware that Applegarth had begun taking dutasteride through an "online" prescription course.
The inquest heard there were no known "suicidal ideation" side effects from dutasteride due to a failure to report such feelings in men taking the drug, which is primarily used to treat enlarged prostates.
A work colleague discovered Applegarth's body on September 19, 2024.
He left no note, and a post-mortem examination found no alcohol or drugs in his system.
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