The heartbroken mum of a much-loved 23-year-old who took his own life after a battle with mental health issues says she “knew he was going to die”.

Louise Knight, from Broadstairs, tried desperately to convince her “selfless and funny” son Gabriel Farmer, who was known as Gabe, that his life was worth living.

But she says she felt powerless in her efforts to help the popular football fan, who died on May 14.

Fighting back tears, the 48-year-old said: “I’m crying because he’s gone and that's not what I wanted - but it is what he wanted.

“He would tell me every day that he wanted to end it all.

“Even though I knew he was going to die, it's still so hard.

“In the end, he thought he was just hurting everybody and letting them down.

“I had him for 23 years and I am lucky that I had that long. I wish I had longer, but I'm still grateful.”

Ms Knight says Gabe struggled with his mental health and low self-esteem, believing he was “ugly and skinny - even though he was far from that”.

He deleted most of his Instagram posts prior to his death, and posted one last status on Twitter two hours before, saying: “I love you all, sorry.”

In a note, he told his loved ones: “Don’t cry that I am gone but smile that I’m at peace.”

Gabe’s family say he will be remembered as a “proper little joker” who “always made people laugh”.

“He was annoyingly funny,” said his mum.

“I’d be sitting watching TV and he’d come in singing really loudly or making stupid noises - he used to wind his sister up too.

“He had a childlike sort of humour to him. As sad as he was, he was always funny.”

An entrepreneur, Gabe had his own business called Farmers Window Cleaning, alongside a small Amazon shipping company.

However, Ms Knight believes his career did little to help his struggles, which stemmed from some traumatic experiences as a child.

“I don't think working for himself helped because he was on his own and he was always in his own head,” the mum-of-two said.

“It must have been so painful having to pretend he was OK every day.

“He didn’t really pretend with me, though.”

Gabe had “amazing” support from his family and friends, with his death leaving a “huge hole” in their lives.

Ms Knight says his girlfriend of eight months, Shannon, is “absolutely broken” by his death.

The former Chatham House pupil, who was a big Chelsea FC fan, was a popular young man with a large circle of friends.

Ms Knight says she has been shown so much support by them since his death that she feels she has “lost one son but gained about 10”.

“They come and sit down with me and we sit here and laugh and cry and tell stories,” she said.

“They are a real pillar of support for me, but I'm worried about them all; so worried because they shouldn't have to go through this. What help do they get?”

Away from football, Gabe’s other big loves were his bulldog Phil, cooking, the gym and tattoos, having amassed body ink including a butterfly on his shoulder and his mum’s date of birth on his side.

He was also fond of Ed’s Cafe in Broadstairs, where he would have breakfast most mornings.

Ms Knight says Gabe was incredibly close to his 20-year-old sister, Lilli, who had “never lived a day without him”, with the siblings recently enjoying a holiday to Morocco together.

“She has found it really hard because he was her big brother and it’s always just been us three,” she said.

Ms Knight believes social media and the pressures of the modern world did not help her son’s mental health.

“I think it affected not just him but everybody,” she said.

“You can feel left out when everyone’s gone out and posted about it and you haven’t.

“It’s been a great support since losing him but it's a cruel, cruel thing and I don’t think it helped him at all.”

Ms Knight and others close to Gabe are now looking to set up a charity called Angel Gabriel, to financially support families affected by depression and mental illness to cover the cost of therapy for their children.

Ms Knight said: “I will talk to anybody who wants to talk, too - any mum who thinks she is going to have to go through what I've been through, because it's so tough.

“Four weeks ago, I felt I had something to fight for - but now I don't.”

Gabe’s friends have also organised a charity football game in his memory this Sunday, as well as a fundraising boxing match on Sunday, June 25.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise funeral funds has collected an incredible £13,600, which means his loved ones can give him “the best funeral ever”.

So matter-of-fact was Gabe about his struggles, that he even told his mum he wanted people to dress in the colours of the rainbow at his funeral - a wish she is asking people to honour.

His bright blue coffin will be carried by six of his close friends at the service, which will take place at Margate crematorium at 12.15pm on Wednesday (June 7).

Gabe leaves behind mum Louise, little sister Lilli, grandparents Elaine and Peter, girlfriend Shannon and best friend Gio.

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans any time on 116 123.