Tragic violinist
Michael Nield, 36, suffered from a condition called electro-sensitivity, which
caused a painful reaction to all sources of electric fields including mobile
phones and phone masts.
His condition was
so severe he wore a special micro-mesh body suit - similar to those used in
medieval coats of armour - when he was out of the house and slept with a
microfibre tent over his bed to reduce his exposure to electric waves.
He claimed mobile phones
gave him a “constant zapping” in his head. His family even moved 150 miles from
Herefordshire to the remote village of Wardy Hill, Cambs, in a bid to escape
the signals.
But despite his
parents’ efforts Michael was so plagued by the condition that he committed
suicide on June 3 by downing a deadly cocktail of drugs and alcohol.
His body was found
in his car by his devastated father Clive parked on a grass track near his
family home.
Speaking at the
inquest into his death, Michael’s mother Barbara - who also suffers from a mild
form of the condition - said her son had “tried everything” to improve his
quality of life.
She said: “Unless
people have electro-sensitivity they just don’t realise what sort of effects it
has.
“He tried
everything to get better. He sought help, he ate a specific diet and he tried
so hard.
“He would just get
constant zapping in his head. I know the feeling as I get it myself, although
not on the level that Michael did.
“That’s why we
moved to Wardy Hill as it’s so remote. He did still sleep with a microfibre
tent over his bed though, which did help.
“We saw it as a
positive step but looking back it was his way of making a last-ditch attempt to
be normal and put his illness aside. But that was obviously something he
couldn’t do.”
Electro-sensitivity
is not recognised by the NHS and there are no known biological markers or
diagnostic tests for it, but growing numbers of people claim to suffer from the
condition.
But research is
increasing into the mystery condition and charities are fighting to get the
bizarre ailment officially recognised.
Sarah Dacre, a
trustee of the charity ElectroSensitivity UK , said: “It’s extremely upsetting
to hear of Michael’s death. I knew him having received a number of emails from
him.
“Sadly the
condition is not recognised by the NHS but is very real, and we get an average
of one suicide a year among those on our books.”
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