Woman ‘depressed after selling horse’ hanged herself on holiday in Tenerife

A pharmacist who was depressed at selling her horse to buy a house killed herself while on holiday with her boyfriend, an inquest heard.

A coroner described mental illness as “one of the greatest demons of our time” after hearing how Victoria Smith was found dead in Tenerife following a battle with depression. The 25-yearold was discovered hanged on the island while on holiday with her 31-year-old boyfriend, Matt Arkwright.

In the months before her death, Miss Smith, of Leyland, Lancs, had said she had “the world on her shoulders” after she sold her horse so she could buy a house and settle down with her partner, the inquest heard.

Although she became excited about how she would renovate the couple’s new home, Miss Smith was also unhappy at work, the coroner heard.

She was last seen alive by Mr Arkwright at the pool of their hotel in March 2016. At an inquest in Preston, James Newman, the coroner, recorded a conclusion of suicide, saying: “Mental illness is one of the greatest demons of our time and it is tragic that Victoria had periods of lows but she was being medicated and it seemed to be working. It is such a waste of a very young and promising life.”