Inquest is told of death fall
A CORONER is considering her verdict after an inquest into the death of a popular teacher who plunged 140ft to her death from a viaduct.
Laurian Bold, 31, who lived in Cheadle and taught chemistry at Hollingworth Academy in Milnrow, Rochdale, was diagnosed with severe anxiety and work-related stress after a promotion.
Her body was found at the foot of Rakewood Viaduct on the M62 motorway near Hollingworth Lake in February.
Ms Bold’s mother, Gabrielle Bold, told the inquest that she had been overloaded with work and blamed the school for her daughter’s ill health which led to her death.
She said the school had ‘failed in their duty of care’ to Ms Bold under Health and Safety legislation.
The school said everything possible was done to support her.
Headteacher Darren Randle told the hearing that Ms Bold had been to see an occupational health doctor before a planned return to work after she was signed off sick.
He said her hours and timetable had been reduced and her responsibilities had been reduced.
After two days of evidence, Lisa Hashmi reserved her decision to a later date, saying she wanted time to consider all the evidence delivered during the hearing in Heywood.
Ms Bold, who was in her ninth year of teaching, was described as an excellent teacher who was well liked and respected.
But her mother told the inquest that ‘there were not enough hours in the day’ for Leeds University graduate Laurian to cover all her responsibilities - and she was signed off through illness in November 2015.
She returned to work after counselling on February 25, six days before her sick leave was due to end. However Laurian left the school hours later saying she felt anxious again. The following day, after staying at her parents’ house in Stockport, she drove to the viaduct near the lake in Littleborough.
A post-mortem examination ruled she died from multiple injuries.