Suicidal woman’s unsent text could have saved her life

Ishe must have had some thoughts that her attempt might not be successful’

A text message which may have saved the life of a suicidal woman failed to send because of a poor mobile signal, an inquest has been told.

Em Davis attempted to reach out to a friend, texting “call an ambulance I’m upstairs” and adding the address of the house she was staying in but the tragic message was only found by police after the 28-year-old was discovered dead by her father at the home in Summer Hill, Harbledown.

An inquest heard the text was sitting in the phone’s outbox and had only been sent went the mobile was taken out of the property.

Miss Davis’s dad Mark Davis told the hearing he had gone to the house on February 25 this year after concerns were raised about his daughter’s welfare.

He had to break in, finding Miss Davis lying on a sofa with a rope around her neck.

Suicide notes to her ex-partner and family were nearby, and a bag marked “hospital to go”.

A pathologist confirmed her death had been due to asphyxia, with police ruling out third-party involvement.

Mr Davis said his daughter, who lived in Walton-on-thames, had suffered with depression since early adulthood and had twice attempted suicide last year.

She was staying at a relative’s house in Canterbury after the break-up of a relationship.

Mr Davis told the inquest he believed she had made a “committed attempt” to take her own life but coroner Alan Blunsdon decided that, despite the notes, both the undelivered text message and “hospital to go” bag raised doubts about Miss Davis’s intentions.

Recording an open verdict he said: “She must have had some thoughts that her attempt might not be successful.

“When faced with a possible conclusion of suicide, a coroner must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the deceased intended, in this case, to take her own life.

“The preparation and background of previous attempts might lead one to that conclusion.

“If it was a serious attempt to take her own life, why would such a text message be sent?

“The doubt has been introduced into the evidence by the message and because I’m not sure it was her intention, I’m not prepared to enter a conclusion of suicide.”

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