Jessica Huggard wants a coronal exam after brother Luke died at The Gap in Sydney

Jessica Huggard cherishes a photo taken with her younger brother Luke at Melbourne Airport in 2015 because it would be the last time the siblings would ever see each other.

Two years later is Mr Huggard, then 32 years old reportedly took his own life at a notorious suicide site called The Gap in Sydney’s eastern suburbs in April 2017.

His body was never found and there was no investigation into his death, so he was not legally pronounced dead and his family cannot give him a proper funeral.

Almost six years after his death, his sister has started a petition to get an inquest date from the NSW Coroner’s Court and a death certificate.

“He deserved better,” said Ms. Huggard.

Luke Huggard (left) and his sister Jessica are pictured at Melbourne Airport in 2015 before he flew to Sydney. She never saw him again

“My brother came in and lit a room. He could talk to anyone. He was full of life and full of laughter.

A beloved brother

Luke Huggard grew up in Melbourne, where he studied art and then went on to postgraduate journalism.

“He was incredible. My brother was a really charismatic 183 cm tall, very gay man, and he grew up in a world that didn’t accept that,” his sister Jessica said.

In 2015 he moved to Sydney to study law and find a home in the city’s gay scene.

Luke Huggard is pictured as a young man

But Mr Huggard, who had long battled a mental illness, started using drugs.

At the time of his disappearance, his sister had been clean for a while but was on prescription medication.

She believes he was in a withdrawal state when he took his own life.

“Two weeks before his death he had a job, he had bought animals again, he had his own apartment. It worked, it was clean and happy,” Ms Huggard said.

“He had this laugh … it was really loud and it was a big belly laugh,” she told 7News.

Three days before he was last seen alive, Mr Huggard was arrested by police attempting to take his own life in the same spot.

He was later taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital in Randwick and admitted to an acute mental health unit as an involuntary patient.

A NSW Health report obtained by the family says Mr Huggard had suicidal thoughts, had delusions and was withdrawing from drug use.

“He experienced anxiety and excitement felt in connection with amphetamine withdrawal,” the report said.

Mr Huggard was examined by a psychiatrist on April 4 and discharged as he no longer had delusions or suicidal thoughts.

He was referred to a general practitioner, but did not come. Hospital staff were the last people to see him alive.

That night, CCTV caught someone matching Mr Huggard’s description taking their own life at The Gap.

A day later he was reported missing by a friend.

On April 17, almost two weeks after his disappearance, police contacted the hospital to inform them of his presumed death, even though they had no body.

Despite this, six years later, Mr Huggard is still on the Australian Federal Police missing persons list.

After a police investigation that concluded he was probably dead, his case was referred to the coroner in 2018.

The family has since heard very little and wants Answers about why he was released from the hospital alone and why the family and were not informed when he was admitted to the psychiatric ward.

“It’s not about blaming anyone for their death, it’s about finding out what happened in the last two days,” Ms Huggard said.

She’s tired of waiting.

‘You have everything in writing to say he’s dead. There’s plenty of evidence,’ she said.

The family, whose trauma has been exacerbated by the uncertainty and waiting, wants an examination and a death certificate so they can hold a funeral.

“It feels like we are being punished for something that is just a tragic situation,” Ms Huggard said.

“All I’m asking is a coroner to pay attention and stop telling me it’s going to be another six months.”

If you need help during a crisis, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For more information about depression, contact beyondblue on 1300224636 or speak to your doctor, healthcare professional or trusted friend.

Jessica Huggard (right) is pictured with a protective arm around her brother Luke when they were children

Luke Huggard’s body (pictured) was never found and there was no inquest, so he has not been legally pronounced dead and his family cannot give him a proper funeral

Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk