Melissa Cross, a 23-year-old care worker from Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, had been soaking up the sunshine on what looked like a dream holiday in Greece. Smiling in selfies, posing by the crystal-clear waters of Zakynthos, and posting glowing captions about the “most beautiful morning,” seeing turtles and exploring the blue caves — her social media was full of idyllic moments.
She stayed at the four-star Golden Sun hotel in Kalamaki with her boyfriend, sharing highlights from their trip that included beach-hopping and quad bike adventures. “Seen the most stunning views today and visited five different beaches,” she wrote, capturing the kind of getaway most people dream of, reported the Mirror.
But just days later, tragedy struck. Melissa’s body was found on September 25, 2023, and an inquest has now confirmed that she took her own life. What made the loss even more devastating for her loved ones was that there had been no warning signs.
At the hearing in Pontypridd, coroner Kerrie Burge explained: “There had been no previous indications that Melissa would harm herself, but Melissa had sent a goodbye message to her family explaining her thoughts and intentions. On the balance of probabilities, it is more likely than not that Melissa intended to take her own life by her actions.”
The heartbreak felt by her family is immeasurable. In the days following her death, heartfelt tributes flooded in. Her sister shared a message that said: “Melissa, my kind, caring, and amazing baby sister. I miss you every second of every day. My world will never be the same again. I’ve loved you all of your life, and I will love and miss you for the rest of mine.”
Another family member wrote: “Melissa, my beautiful, gorgeous Auntie Mel. I love and miss you so much more than anything. We’ve made so many amazing memories together over the years. We were so close to each other. Rest in pure paradise, Melissa.”
Melissa’s story is sadly not unique. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among young people in the UK. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that in 2023, there were 6,069 suicides registered in England and Wales — the highest number since 1999. Among women and girls, the rate has risen to 5.7 deaths per 100,000 — the highest since 1994.
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