Actress hanged herself after death of fiancé

A PROMISING actress who spent every day in hospital by the side of her soulmate as he battled a brain tumour killed herself seven months after he lost his battle for life.

Nikki Sam-Addae, 23, who was on the road to achieving her dream of pursuing a career as an actress after scooping a first-class honours degree in acting, spiralled into depression after the death of her fianc Luke Evans in January last year.

Miss Sam-Addae, of Kingston Avenue, Huddersfield, had taken a year out of university to spend Mr Evans's final days at his bedside but still managed to pass her degree with flying colours and had been signed up to a London talent agency.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Yesterday Huddersfield Coroners Court heard she had been found in a wooded area near her home in Huddersfield, seven months after Mr Evans's death and just a month before she got her degree from the University of Central Lancashire.

She had met Mr Evans, 23, who was also an aspiring actor, while at university. He was diagnosed with a brain tumour in January 2008.

Friends set up the Luke Evans Fund on social networking site Facebook, which helped pay for her bus fares to and from Preston Royal Infirmary, where Mr Evans was being treated. They said the reason he had survived for so long was because Miss Sam-Addae was by his side.

Her mother, Kathryn Dhurmea, said in a statement read at yesterday's inquest: "All she ever wanted to become since she was young was an actress. She would sing and dance around the house and perform for the family with her younger sister.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"Nikki worked so hard at school and university, she was a perfectionist. She was a talented young woman who fell in love and lost her soulmate far too young."

Her brother Justin, 34, said after her death in August last year: "Luke spent the last 12 months of his life in intensive care. Nikki took a year out of university and spent every day with him.

"After Luke passed away she went back to university and completed her degree.

"Nikki was very intelligent, she always got A-stars. She was the only person on her course to get a first. But she just couldn't cope living without Luke."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Miss Sam-Addae had been accepted by an acting agent in London just weeks before she died but after her fianc's death she was taking anti-depressants.

In July, she took an overdose of her medication, but rang her brother after she had taken the tablets and she was taken straight to hospital.

Pathologist Dr James Garvican carried out a post mortem examination and concluded that she hanged herself.

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict that Miss Sam-Addae took her own life, saying: "I am satisfied that she took her own life after the balance in her life was disturbed as she was affected by the death of her boyfriend."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Facebook fund set up for Luke has now been changed to the Luke and Nikki Fund, designed to help other young actors and actresses on the road to success in the devoted couple's names.

Miss Sam-Addae leaves behind parents Sam and Kathryn, brothers Antony and Justin and sisters Christine and Vanessa. Miss Sam-Addae was also an aunt to five children.

Related topics: