THE death of a Kidderminster teenager who stabbed himself in the stomach has been ruled an accident.

At the inquest of Nicholas Michael Paul Sheppard, Worcestershire coroner, Victor Round, said it was likely the 17-year-old, who suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder - ADHD - had intended to create a drama but not to end his life.

He explained the student had phoned 999 on the night he died and said: "I'm going to kill myself."

In the coroner's experience, people who were going to kill themselves did not ring 999.

The teenager, of Land Oak Drive, suffered a history of self-harm and depression. He was at the Blakedown home of Natalie Clifford, a friend on the chef's course he attended at Halesowen College, when he stabbed himself on October 3, last year.

He died at Russell's Hall Hospital after being found lying motionless in the 16-year-old's bedroom by her mother, Sylvia Clifford, who called an ambulance.

Paramedics found a two-inch abdominal stab wound under his clothes.

Two knives were found - one bloodstained - and Mr Round said both had been taken from Ms Clifford's college knife roll.

He said hesitation marks next to the main injury confirmed self-infliction "and, of course, the absence of any forensic traces, other than that of Nicholas and Natalie, who was very much entitled, because they were her knives."

He added: "If I was thinking of recording a verdict that he committed suicide I would have to be certain beyond reasonable doubt that he wanted to kill himself ... and I don't believe that ... I don't think he had settled his mind that he was going to take his life at all.

"Sometimes it's called a cry for help - it's the same thing."

The cause of death was recorded as "haemorrhage (due to) a stab wound self-inflicted by the deceased."

Nicholas's sister, Stephanie, was at the hearing at Stourport coroner's court on Tuesday, but his parents, Patricia and Paul, were too upset to attend, according to a police officer.

He said they were satisfied with the verdict and "glad it was all over".

The coroner's report said police had kept an open mind during the investigation and examined three theories, including a third, unknown person, having inflicted the fatal injury after entering the house unseen or that one of the adults present in the house when police arrived stabbed Nicholas.