Adam Bowers fell to his death after jumping from the block of flats on Washington Road, Sharrow, where he lived.

Adam, aged 33, taught himself a number of languages and musical instruments, excelled at school and university. But there was a history of mental health problems in his family, an inquest into his death heard. Today his heartbroken mum Kathleen told The Star: "Adam was unique in everything he did and was a very special person."

"I miss him every single day and I think he will be missed by everyone who knew him."

The court heard his father Douglas killed himself when Adam was just 11 and another family member was schizophrenic.

Adam was diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder at 21, shortly after graduating from the University of Sheffield with a degree in bio-chemistry.

He was a computer wizard and could speak numerous languages fluently after studying books and talking to people from other countries on the internet.

He dreamed of writing a book, was extremely artistic and played a string of instruments in a band.

But he battled mental illness throughout his adult life and became further depressed when his American fiancé, whom he met over the internet, died suddenly.

He also struggled to keep on top of his finances especially after a mystery lodger, known only as Owen, moved into his flat temporarily and is thought to have taken money from him.

On January 9 Adam plunged from a bridge which connected landings in the block of flats where he lived. A neighbour told how she raised the alarm after seeing him jump from the 34 foot high bridge.

Paramedics rushed to the scene but Adam was pronounced dead at the scene. He had fractured his skull.

Kathleen said in the weeks before his death Adam told her he didn't feel well and was not getting any satisfaction from life".

Assistant deputy coroner Donald Coutts-Wood recorded a verdict Adam took his own life.