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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dominic Moffitt & Joseph Wilkes

Apprentice star's friend took own life after 'psychotic episode' taking cocaine

A young woman who "lit up a room" took her own life following a night out drinking and taking cocaine which may have led to a 'psychotic episode', an inquest has heard.

Katrina Fell, 23, was tragically found dead by a dog walker on a riverbank near Waddington bridge in Lancashire at 9.20am on Friday, November 8 last year.

Her mother told the hearing she felt her daughter may have had "some kind of psychotic episode due to the drugs she was taking and the substances mixed with the cocaine" when she decided to take her own life.

Katrina, from Waddington, near Clitheroe, was described as a beautiful, fun and caring daughter by mum Angela Allen who spoke at the inquest held in Blackburn today, Lancs.Live reports.

The court heard she had been out the night before, leaving her friend's flat the next morning.

Mrs Allen told the court that her daughter's suicide was completely 'out of the blue' and she believed that if she hadn't taken cocaine the night before, she wouldn't have been suicidal.

Katrina was 'fun and caring' (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

She was clear that her suicide was not down to mental health issues and implied that an emotional low following cocaine use could have brought on thoughts of suicide. 

"Kat wouldn't have done it because she couldn't cope with life," said Mrs Allen. 

"The only thing I can think of is that she had some kind of psychotic episode due to the drugs she was taking and the substances mixed with the cocaine. 

"I can't imagine that from her leaving the house she was thinking of doing it. 

"It definitely wasn't planned. It was completely out of the blue."

With mum Angela (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

"She was fun, just kind and caring, loving, she lit up a room, you always knew when Kat was in the room," said Mrs Allen.

"I couldn't have been prouder of her as a mother, she was beautiful.

"She was the most loving and caring person, she would have been so unhappy to know what she had done to us."

Katrina's mother told the court repeatedly that her daughter had 'mild' mental health problems and had shown no indication of self harm or suicide.

The inquest heard her daughter had 'some anxiety' and had been feeling down in the past few months but had told the doctor that she had a good support network and was keen to deal with the issues through exercise and healthy eating.

Her mother also mentioned a 'cry for help' from back in 2012 when Katrina was in Australia but claims that this was not part of a long term mental health problem.

Mrs Allen said: "She sometimes felt a bit down, but would pick herself back up.

"She did go to the doctors two weeks before, that was encouraged by me. She spoke to the doctor and her boyfriend, she said she would sort it out herself with a good diet and exercise.

"She was the happiest she had been for a long time. There were no significant issues we could think of at all."

She was the happiest she had been for a long time (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Her mum discussed whether her daughter had a pyschotic episode (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

Mrs Allen told the court that her daughter had been open about her drug taking in the past but was not aware of how often or how much her daughter was consuming cocaine.

Katie Mary Jackson, who spoke at the inquest, confirmed that Katrina had taken cocaine but claimed that there had been no arguments within the group and that Katrina was in a good mood.

She said: "Kat was fine, she was the happiest I've seen her in a long time.

"It was an all round happy night, we were having deep conversation with our friends."

Her mum was certain Katrina would not have planned to end her life (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Katrina 'lit up a room' (Katrina Fell/ Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)

But Jay Nelson, who also spoke at the court, confirmed that Katrina had "freaked out" at around 6.30am and had to be calmed down before she left the flat.

She later called a taxi and asked him to drop her at Waddington bridge where she exited and made her way to a nearby wooded area near the riverbank.

She was found by a dog walker at around 9.20am and airlifted to Blackburn hospital. Katrina was pronounced dead at 11.44am.

Assistant coroner Mark Williams concluded that Katrina had taken her own life.

She 'seemed the happiest girl in the world' (MEN Media)

"There is only one conclusion can take come to," he told Katrina's family.

"That is that Katrina took her own life, I don't see it as a cry for help because it was done in a remote location where no one was likely to find her."

Toxicology reports confirmed that Katrina had taken cocaine and alcohol before she died.

Following news of her death last year, Camilla Ainsworth, a finalist in the 2018 series of The Apprentice, tweeted: "There are no words that seem enough. I saw you two weeks ago and you seemed the happiest girl in the world.

"You’ve always had the ability to light up any room, make anyone laugh. If only you could see how many people loved you so deeply Katrina."

You are never alone. If you need to speak to someone, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or by emailing  jo@samaritans.org

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