Court hears of death in city hotel

A FALMOUTH University student was found dead in a Plymouth hotel room bathroom after a long-term battle with mental health, an inquest heard.

The inquest was opened by senior coroner Ian Arrow at Plymouth Coroner’s Court, which formally named the deceased woman as 22-year-old Alison Suzanne Rowe.

Mr Arrow told the court how the student had been found at Jury’s Inn at Exeter Street in Plymouth on November 10, 2020. Alison had been studying journalism at the Cornish university but had taken time away from her course after her mental health had deteriorated.

Before her death, she had resumed her course but was left feeling stressed by the fact she had missed so much time at university. She had also been struggling with her mental health after the breakdown of a longterm relationship with her boyfriend.

Alison’s GP noted that she suffered with depression and personality disorder, among other conditions, which caused her to hallucinate and hear things.

She had also informed doctors she was worried she was developing schizophrenia, but doctors informed her this was not the case as her symptoms did not match someone who was suffering from schizophrenia.

Dr Jane Boydell, general adult psychiatry, noted that Alison had a history of buying drugs over the internet which in her opinion increased her psychotic symptoms. Her drug use also made her more impulsive.

Mr Arrow closed proceedings by confirming the official cause of death was hanging. He said: “On the balance of probability, the deceased chose to end her own life in a hotel room she had previously booked.” He sent his condolences to the family and friends of Alison.