‘Big-hearted’ mum took her own life
Inquest told of ‘turbulent times’ with mental health
A“BIG hearted” mother-of-eight died as a result of suicide, an inquest heard.
Debra Cull, 55, of Lenham Towers in Stockport went missing on September 4 last year.
She was pictured on CCTV near Cohen’s chemist, at the junction of Northumberland Road and Brinnington Road, at 10.20am. Her body was later found by a dog walker in a deep ravine in Reddish Vale Country Park on September 12.
At an inquest at Stockport Coroners Court, Debra’s mother, Maureen Toon, said she had spoken to her daughter, who had been diagnosed as bipolar, the night before her disappearance and said she seemed “like normal Debbie.”
She was going to Cornwall for a break the next day and said: “By the time we got to Cornwall we had received a phone call saying she had gone missing and no-one knew where she was. It was terrible.”
In a statement, Debra’s husband Mathew Cull, said the day before her disappearance they had gone with their young son James to the viewing area of Manchester Airport, where they “had a great time taking selfies and photos.”
The following day he described how he received a Whatsapp message at 10.57am saying ‘I am sorry, I can’t live with myself ’. Then an hour later another saying: “I will be back soon, I love you.”
Mr Cull reported his wife missing at 7.49pm.
Mrs Toon, who said Debra was not taking her medication as she should, described how she had spent time in Spain with her husband and son, which had taken a bad turn last year.
She said it was her belief Mr Cull had wanted his wife sectioned and told her he was going to phone the authorities, which he did.
Mrs Toon said: “They took her to the police station and then the psychiatric hospital. Her brother David and daughter Sharon flew out to Spain to speak to the British Consul. They wanted her back to the UK for treatment but she was told no. She was screaming and crying and they shackled her to a bed when David and Sharon had to leave her. Eventually they let her go and she flew home.”
Mrs Toon described how due to her own disabilities and Covid restrictions, she had not been able to get to her daughter while she was overseas.
She said of her daughter: “She would do anything to help, she was very generous of spirit. She had eight children and she loved them all. She took great joy in her grandchildren. This is so out of character as she had so many plans.”
Gemma Downs, mental health social worker for Pennine Care who was Debra’s Care Coordinator, said: “Debra had been through turbulent times as far as her mental health was concerned. She was stabilized on her medication. Things were falling back into place and she was looking forward to the future and making plans.
“I talked to her about the traumatic experience she had had in Spain and suggested therapy but she did not feel she needed it as she was very supported by her family.”
Ms Downs described how Debra was very upset that her grandchild had passed away and her son had been stabbed in Glasgow.
A toxicology report proved Debra had medication in her body at levels higher than those for therapeutic use.
Area coroner Christopher Morris concluded Mrs Cull had died as a consequence of toxicity and recorded this was as a consequence of suicide.
He said: “Despite having a lot of family support, she had clearly gone through a lot of traumatic times with both her health and personal circumstances. When Debra was compliant with her medication she had relative normality.”
Speaking to the Express at the inquest daughter Emily Edwards, said: “She was the loveliest person you could ever meet. I just hope she is at peace now.”