A talented Oxford University student plunged to her death after accidentally walking off a cliff while on a night out with pals.
Simone Norowzian had been staying with friends at an Airbnb in Margate, Kent, when she climbed over some railing but did not realise there was a sheer drop on the other side.
Friend William Hayman described hearing a "short, sharp scream" as the 21-year-old final year student fell to her death from the cliff top, an inquest was told.
Ms Norowzian, a drama enthusiast who read English and classics at Oxford, had been visiting the seaside town with two friends for the August bank holiday.
They had been out for dinner and drinks at a Wetherspoon pub before returning to their accommodation where they played a game of Truth or Dare.
In the early hours of the morning, the young student decided to head out for a cigarette by the sea before going to bed.
Emergency services were called at around 3.40am on August 28 but she was tragically pronounced dead by paramedics a short time later.
At her inquest last week, friend William Hayman said: "After we completed the game of Truth or Dare, we sat up talking for about 15 minutes.
"We decided to go to bed and Simone wanted a cigarette. She and I walked out into the car park and I realised she was very intoxicated.
"She was ahead of me by about ten metres and walked towards the fence where the viewing binoculars were. As I shouted that there was a cliff, I heard a short, sharp scream."
Ms Norowzian had climbed over the railings that run along the cliff-edge near Margate Lido and onto a strip of grass just before the drop, thinking it led to the beach.
Instead, she unwittingly landed on the promenade below.
In his statement, Mr Hayman added: "The first thing I did was repeatedly call Simone's name. I flagged a car down and pleaded with him to call an ambulance.
"After the ambulance arrived, I walked towards the lido to try to see Simone, but it was too dark. I know for a fact that she would not have gone over on purpose."
Ms Norowzian's devastated family believe her death was avoidable and are now urging Thanet District Council to prevent such a tragedy from being repeated.
During her inquest, the undergraduate was described by her sister Claire Norowzian as "a sensible girl" and a passionate thespian.
She added: "Simone was entering her final year at Oxford. She was a keen actor and had her whole life ahead of her.
"She couldn't clearly assess the danger. She thought she was climbing over the barrier to a hill to the beach.
"We believe her death was preventable and avoidable. We believe it is the council's responsibility to prevent such a tragedy from being repeated."
DS Alper Ay told the inquest on Wednesday that the "poor lighting" in the area, and the fact that Simone had been drinking, could have contributed to her fatal mistake.
Post-mortem reports showed that the talented student, who was from Sunbury-on-Thames, Sussex, was more than twice the drink-drive limit.
DS Ay added: "If you stood up on the railings, you can see it's a cliff edge. Due to the poor lighting and the long grass, it could be difficult at a quick glance to see the drop.
"Under the influence of alcohol, you could mistake the drop for a hill. It was a tragic accident."
Thanet District Council is responsible for the maintenance of the upper and lower promenades, as well as for the lighting and the metre-tall railings along the cliff.
Luke Glover, who works for the authority, told the inquest that the barriers are up to the standards "you would expect along a modern coastline" and that the lighting was adequate for the area.
He added: "It's not often you would see people on the upper promenade at night. It's probably better than a lot of areas in the UK in terms of clifftop safety.
"There are no defects with the lighting at that spot."
Mr Glover said council officers had discussed the merits of erecting signs along the coast warning passersby about the cliff.
But despite saying they would not cost much to erect, he said the authority's position is "if it's got a balustrade there, it's not necessary to put a sign up".
He added: "I have been at Thanet District Council for 13 years and I have never known of an incident there."
Post-mortem examinations showed that the passionate scholar died from a severe head injury sustained in the fall.
Coroner Joanne Andrews recorded Simone's death as an accident.
She said: "She was an intelligent girl and had come to Margate for a week away with friends.
"As I understand the situation, the upper promenade is light and the lower promenade is not.
"There's no evidence that the council was aware of any issues with the lighting at the time. The railings are inspected twice a year. This is nothing other than a tragic accident."
Ms Andrews did not provide any recommendations for the district council in her outcome.
Despite this, a spokesperson for the authority confirmed following the hearing that officials will carry out a review of its coastal risk assessments.
A heartbreaking tribute was made to Ms Norowzian in a JustGiving page launched by loved ones in her memory.
It reads: "We cannot believe that our beautiful Atousa is no longer with us. We are truly heartbroken.
“But we are lucky enough to remember her as an inspirational daughter, sister and aunty.
"She was a true bright star, full of light and passion who was going to set the world alight.
"Like her mum, Atousa was passionate about social justice and equality.
"She was also whip smart and one of the only students from her school to attend Oxford University.
"Rather than sending flowers, we would love and appreciate if people could donate to CARE International."
