A woman whose body was found on rocks after she was reported missing had disclosed her thoughts of walking into the sea to her GP, an inquest heard.
69-year-old Jennifer Zoe Key disappeared from her home in Downside, Ventnor on the night of the 17th August 2019. A missing person appeal was launched the following lunchtime by Hampshire Constabulary after her husband could not locate her in the morning.
Mrs Key, who had an extensive history of mental health issues including anxiety and depression, had last been seen by a neighbour at approximately 22:30 on the night of her disappearance.
HM Coroner, Caroline Sumeray, heard that Mrs Key had a history of making attempts to end her own life, with 4 previous overdose attempts. This led to her husband purchasing a lockable medicine box to prevent her from accessing medication and restricting her access to cash following an attempt which saw her purchase and consume large quantities of paracetamol. Mrs Key had also spent time in intensive care following an attempt in 2017.
The inquest heard that the deceased had been waiting for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and that her husband had been in regular contact with the Mental Health Crisis team. A Serious Incident (SI) report noted that there had been no evidence of a risk assessment conducted regarding Mrs Key and that poor communication between organisations had meant that the details of calls to the crisis team had not been passed on to other teams dealing with her care.
Furthermore, no check calls had been made to Mrs Key after she left mid-way through a session at the Issorropia Foundation in Newport after claiming she ‘didn’t feel good’. She had also previously disclosed thoughts of walking into the sea to her husband and to her GP.
Mrs Key’s body was located on the morning of 18th August by a group of family and friends visiting the beach below the La Falaise car park in Ventnor. An account was provided by a member of the family describing the sighting of an object floating in the sea off Weston Cliffs. As the object drew nearer, the realisation that the object was a body of a female was made.
Officers and Coastguard teams attended the beach following a 999 call from the group and located the body of Mrs Key on rocks nearby. Her body was found to have lacerations to the forehead and abrasions on the knees, but toxicology reports found no evidence of drug or alcohol playing a part in her death.
Mrs Key, who had also suffered from neuropathic pain problems for many years, was pronounced life extinct at the scene, with a post mortem examination determining that she had drowned.
Coroner Caroline Sumeray recorded Mrs Key’s death as a suicide.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, you can call The Samaritans in confidence on 116 123. Help is at hand when you need it - you don’t have to be suicidal to get in touch.
Island residents deserve better healthcare than this, what an appalling damnation of our mental health services, how very sad….
I heard about the poor woman but this is the 1st time I knew the details my heart goes out to her husband. There is so many things I want to say about this but that want ease his pain or bring her back the people involved know what have or haven’t done how can you sleep at night. Rest in peace