'Kind and beautiful' daughter left heart-wrenching note before railway tragedy

Heartbroken family members have paid tribute to a young woman who died after stepping in front of a train.

Lucy Lavinia Jackson, 32, of Elland, died at Sowerby Bridge railway station on April 25, leaving family and friends devastated. Halifax-born Lucy had emigrated to Australia in 2015 but in October 2023 had suffered a mental health episode which had led to her being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

She had returned to the UK in December 2023 and was being supported by family members, along with her GP, and had been referred to local mental health services, an inquest was told. She had been taking anti-psychotic drugs and her mental health was said to be improving, although she had reported side effects from the medication.

Read more: Heartbreaking tributes to 'funny and kind' Huddersfield man, 49, after holiday tragedy

By December 24, she had stopped taking her medication following a reduction plan overseen by a consultant psychiatrist. Lucy had explained that she had a preference for alternative therapies and Chinese medicine.

In January she told her GP that things were getting better, but on April 24, the day before her death, Lucy and her mum contacted the GP due to Lucy struggling with 'paranoia'. The GP referred Lucy to mental health services but sadly she took her own life the following day.

Her family described Lucy as a kind and beautiful woman who had achieved A* exam results and had gone on to become a teacher. At the time of her death she had been working in a cafe as a waitress.

Toxicology tests on her blood confirmed that there were no drugs of any kind in her system, nor any alcohol.

She had previously purchased her own house in Australia. Her mental health issues while abroad were described by her family as coming 'out of the blue'.

The day before her death, Lucy had been shopping with her mum who said that her daughter had never once mentioned any suicidal intentions.

Read more: Ex-West Yorkshire PC shared pro-Hamas messages

"We went shopping the day before to the White Rose Centre, buying shoes for her cousin's wedding. It's so sad," she told the hearing in Bradford.

Lucy had not wanted to 'take drugs' to get better but had preferred to get well by 'natural' remedies, her mum added.

On the day of her death, a note was found in Lucy's rucksack which said: "I'm sorry, I need to leave my family in peace and stop wasting time. Sorry. I love you all."

Read more: Leeds biker killed in tragic A58 crash has been named by police

Assistant coroner Duncan Ritchie concluded that Lucy had taken her own life. The coroner said he had considered whether Lucy's use of 'holistic therapies' in her treatment might have been a contributory factor.

However, Mr Ritchie said that, once Lucy had come off the medication, mental health services and her GP had assessed her risk regularly and at no stage did she indicate any intention to harm herself.

The coroner said he hadn't found any failings in care which might have caused or contributed to Lucy's death.

Get all the latest and breaking news in Yorkshire by signing up to our newsletter here.