Devastated dad Adrian Derbyshire shares photos of daughter Julia's final moments before her death

WARNING: This article contains some images that readers may consider graphic or upsetting

A brave dad has shared photos of his daughter's final moments before her death from suicide on what would have been her 18th birthday.

Adrian Derbyshire, 42, uploaded the images to his Facebook page yesterday, which would have been Julia's 18th birthday - had she not committed suicide after being the victim of cyberbullying.

Tragically, Adrian made the devastating decision to turn off Julia's life support five days after she attempted to kill herself by hanging in October 2015.

Adrian, a two-time gold medal Paralympian, has not been able to look at the photos of Julia since her death. A day before posting the photos, he wrote on Facebook: "It will be the first time I've looked at the picture since taking them which is going to destroy me."

"But I feel we need to do this to raise vital awareness so no one has to go through what we've all had to endure.

"It's going to be the hardest thing, physically & psychologically I've ever had to do and I feel physically sick."

Adrian was the one to find Julia unconscious at their home Warrington, Cheshire, after she tried to hang herself. Although he was already an ambassador for Warrington Hate Crime before the death of his daughter, he has since begun a campaign called #SASSY - Support Against Self-harm And Suicide in Youth - for anti-bullying and runs events to raise awareness.

Alongside the upsetting photos of Julia in her final moments, he wrote: "I can't tell you all how I feel as I've gone past the line of devastation & loss but this devastating story of a beautiful young woman who had given up on herself and life due to others NEEDS TO BE HEARD.

"This will be difficult but I want you all to share this post. AWARENESS is the only way I know to support others and after reading this they may seek help and support."

Speaking to The Sun, the international wheelchair fencer said: "Releasing these photos was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my life.

"Instead of taking her out for champagne to celebrate her 18th birthday, I was placing flowers on her grave."

Despite being an active member of her dad's campaigns, Julia was using a fake name in online forums that promoted self-harm and suicide in teenagers.

Adrian wants to stop the effects of bullying from taking more innocent lives, and wrote on his Facebook page: "No parent, family or friend should ever go through the devastation & loss I have, we all have."

Have you or a loved one ever been the victim of cyberbullying? Let us know over on Facebook and Twitter.

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