Phone slip-up may have killed Rogers

By Jacquelin Magnay
January 6, 2006
Tragic … Steve and Ingrid Rogers.

Tragic … Steve and Ingrid Rogers.

STEVE ROGERS desperately tried to get help before he died but was thwarted by a tragic series of circumstances. His wife, Ingrid, firmly believes he did not intentionally take his own life, and a close family friend has said the notes he left did not refer to any suicide thoughts.

According to his mobile phone records, the last number the former league star rang was 888. His family believes he was trying to call 000 but in his disoriented state hit eight, above zero on his phone. He was also without his reading glasses.

Rogers, who was on anti-depressants and had been out drinking, had tried to get the attention of his neighbour in the early hours of Tuesday but although his neighbour heard the hammering on his door he did not answer, fearing it was hoons.

Rogers's brother-in-law, Ian Hipwell, discovered Rogers lying slumped outside the door hours later. Rogers's mobile phone was found nearby.

Mrs Rogers, who was on holiday at the time, had asked Mr Hipwell to check on him after he failed to call her at 8am, as they had arranged the night before.

The neighbour has spoken to Rogers's family about the terrible misunderstanding.

A friend of the family, Debbie Rockwell, said it was not unusual for Rogers to write notes to his family. She said the letters he left for his wife and his son did not refer to suicide. Instead they recollected happy times, including Rogers's marriage proposal to his wife. "Steve was a very romantic guy and they were love letters to Ingrid and a note to Mat saying how proud he was of him," said Ms Rockwell, who was matron of honour at the couple's wedding.

"Steve did this all the time; he was very affectionate.

"The family think that maybe Steve had come home after having had a few drinks - something he had promised Ingrid he wouldn't do because he was taking anti-depressants - and he was just a bit nostalgic in writing his thoughts.

"The tragic thing is Steve obviously realised he was in trouble at some point and was trying to get help. Ingrid is distraught she wasn't there."

Mrs Rogers was with Ms Rockwell in Tugun, on the Gold Coast, at the time of the tragedy. She had wanted to enjoy some sun before starting back at her Caringbah real-estate agent's job on Monday.

Although the couple had returned early from their holiday in Europe Ms Rockwell dismissed rumours that their marriage was in trouble.

Rogers had rung his wife at 10pm the night before he died, laughing about a movie she had seen. The last words he said to her were: "I love you, too."

Friends said Mrs Rogers had wanted to continue the European trip, but that Rogers had been concerned about the amount of money it was costing. During the four-week trip they bought new furniture and crockery from Morocco, and Rogers had even splashed out on a cashmere full-length coat in London.

Before the trip they bought a holiday apartment on the Sunshine Coast and were looking at a further property development in Sutherland Shire, despite problems on their last project.

Rogers had also set up a new company with his sons, Mat and Don, which was licensed to sell National Rugby League jewellery.

Rogers had been on anti-depressant medication since 2001, when his first wife, Carol, died after a battle with cancer.

Mat said on Wednesday that his father had found it hard to talk about his depression.

He had been drinking with a relative at the local golf club the day before his death and was last seen when he was dropped off at his home in Cronulla about 9.30pm.
