Two girls jump to deaths in double suicide tragedy

TWO “bright, caring” teenage British girls who committed suicide by throwing themselves 120ft from the 11th floor of a block of flats left text messages to their families revealing their pain, an inquest heard yesterday.

Lisa Utton, aged 18, of Rochford, Essex, and Danielle Waddington, aged 16, of Southend, Essex, were found at the foot of a tower block in Southend in the early hours of November 16. They had walked out of a hospital accident and emergency department 70 minutes earlier. Recording a verdict of suicide, Southend coroner Peter Dean said it was a "double tragedy".

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Simon Dinsdale said: "We are left with deliberate intentional acts with two young ladies who are not under the influence of drugs and do not have high levels of alcohol just above, but not markedly, the drink drive level.

"We have established who, where, when and how today but why sometimes is unknowable. It's difficult to think of a more tragic case."

There was no evidence to suggest anyone else had been involved or that one of the girls had pulled the other to her death, he said.

Detective Chief Inspector Dinsdale said it was quickly determined that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the girls' deaths but a major investigation was launched because it was such an unusual case.

He said many myths and rumours circulated about the deaths, including suggestions they were on drugs or that other people had been involved. However, there was no evidence to suggest any truth in any of the claims.

A high barrier at the window meant that the girls could not have fallen accidentally and the window was too narrow for one to have pulled the other out. There were two text messages left unsent in Lisa's mobile phone, found in her handbag where she fell at the bottom of Cecil Court, Jones Close. One from Danielle and one from the pair of them expressing their love for their families and said they were "not handling the pain any more". Mr Dinsdale described the girls as "bright, caring, educated but troubled" youngsters who were casual friends who had known each other about a year. Lisa was described as "gregarious and compassionate" but also a "very angry young lady" who had spent time in foster care.

Danielle had suffered from the break-up of her parents' marriage, but had been excited that day at starting a new job at Wimpy. Both girls had a history of self-harm and had previously made attempts on their own lives. They had both been having psychiatric care for a year.

The night the girls died they met at around 11.30 on the seafront and spent several hours "drifting up and down" with different groups of friends, "a usual Saturday night".

Witnesses reported that Danielle became hysterical and Lisa tried to calm her down. Eventually an ambulance and police were called at 1.27am and a paramedic decided to take Danielle to hospital. Lisa accompanied her in the ambulance.

The two remained at the hospital for about an hour.

One witness reported hearing Danielle say: "I am going to top myself. I don't want to be here any more. I don't want to go into the madhouse any more."

The two girls were seen walking alone across to the block of flats and one resident reported hearing a thud at around 3.20am.