THE father of a young man who committed suicide after getting into financial difficulty hopes others will learn from his son's death.
Dan Rix, 26, was found hanged at Thomas Woods, in Brocklesby.
His father Phillip – who says the pain of losing his son will never go away – has spoken to the Telegraph to use the money issues his son faced as a warning to others.
"I think it is the stigma of debt, what a proud person Danny was and the impact it was having on his relationship, that made him commit suicide," said Mr Rix.
"All he had was a sum of money owed, which was mostly to banks or credit cards – institutions that make billions of pounds.
"It was an amount that wouldn't even have been a drop in the ocean to them.
"I think a letter he received from the bank was the final straw, because Danny never gave any indication that he was thinking of doing what he did."
Mr Rix wants to raise awareness about debt and the importance of seeking help early in a bid to stop families going through the same ordeal.
He said: "If it can happen to our family, it can happen to anyone.
"If you are reading this and fear you are on the path that Danny took, there are people who can help.
"Suicide is not the way for young people or for anybody on that path of financial, or any other type of difficulty.
"Danny's death was senseless.
"Some days I will be doing something and I get this feeling like a kick that's right in the stomach – it brings you to your knees and you start to cry.
"We want to keep his memory alive, so if Danny's story prevents one person from going down that road, Danny's death will not be so devastatingly senseless."
Mr Rix had been working alongside his son in the days leading up to when Danny disappeared on April 15.
He was found in the woods the next day.
They had been converting a van into a camper and Danny had been talking about his future.
"Danny went to the Citizens Advice Bureau," said Mr Rix. "He had a court date to make his bankruptcy official and stop the creditors hassling him.
"He wouldn't have done all that if he thought he was helpless. He was thinking ahead and the bankruptcy would have drawn a line under it and he would have been made to pay what he could."
Mr Rix said his son, who lived in Ulceby with his partner, had a well-paid job as a self-employed builder and was always working.
"He was hard working, conscientious and a very talented tradesman," he said.
"When I was told Danny was missing, it was so out of character, but I had a feeling inside me that I didn't want to acknowledge.
"When the police told me they had found his body, it was the start of the nightmare."
Mr Rix strongly believes firms that lend money should be made to contribute financially to charities which offer advice to people with money worries.
He told how the entire family is heartbroken and thanked those who are supporting him through his grief.
A black-tie ball will be held at Forest Pines on Saturday, November 17. Tickets cost £35, including a three-course meal and a welcome drink. Funds raised will be donated to national and local charities and good causes which deal with issues that affected Danny.
