An Exeter woman who drowned in a hole between rocks in the sea at Sidmouth took a fatal overdose before venturing into the water, an inquest heard. A missing person report was filed after an early morning swimmer found belongings that had been left on steps by Jacobs Ladder on August 10, 2022, but no other person could be seen in the water.
The items left included a half-drunk bottle of water and a handbag containing some empty blister packets of tablets prescribed to 53-year-old Sarah Buckingham. She was discovered the following day by a swimmer who had visited the beach with his family.
The dad told in a statement how he had swum out to some rocks and when he climbed onto them he saw the body of a woman down a 'hole in the rocks'. When he climbed to reach her he said she had no pulse.
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He helped a coastguard recover her body and she was later identified as being Miss Buckingham. The cause of her death was later confirmed as asphyxia due to drowning. At the time of her death, she was 'heavily intoxicated' after taking an overdose of two of her prescription medications.
The inquest at Exeter’s Coroners Court today, July 20, heard how Miss Buckingham, who was born in Canterbury, had a long and established history of poor mental health, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideations.
On June 15, 2022, she was sectioned at psychiatric hospital The Cedars in Exeter due to suffering from a 'very severe' depressive episode. She showed improvement after six weeks and was discharged to step-down service Redhills House in Exeter for a short time before returning to live with her parents and being under the care of the local mental health home treatment team.
Miss Buckingham was said to be struggling with living with chronic fatigue, which she was diagnosed with in 2000 and prevented her from working, and was feeling overwhelmed by the renovation of her house.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, assistant coroner Luisa Nicholson said: "Her death was due to suicide as she took steps to end her life."
Shatter the Silence
The DevonLive Shatter the Silence campaign aims to encourage anyone struggling to reach out and talk - to either a friend, relative, charity or a professional. Our campaign content will highlight just how important talking is and the difference it can make.
Ultimately, we want to reduce the number of people who die by suicide in Devon. We will highlight where to get help and show how talking has helped people come through difficult times in their lives. We will speak to families who have lost loved ones to look at the lasting impact of suicide and attempt to dismiss the inaccurate belief many people who are struggling manifest that they are a burden on the ones they love. We will look at the devastation caused to those left behind in the hope that even one reader might change their mind if they have considered taking their own life.
We will speak to people who have survived a suicide attempt and have accessed counselling or other mental health services to show that things can get better. We will speak to Samaritans volunteers about their vital work in Devon and how they are on hand 24-7 to listen. And we will offer guidance on what to say to someone who is struggling so people feel more confident to have that conversation.
Do you have a relevant story to share? Email emma.slee@reachplc.com.
WHERE TO GET HELP:
SAMARITANS offers support in a range of ways, including a self-help app, email support or by calling 116 123 for free 24 hours a day
NHS Offers advice on how to access mental health support
TALKWORKS is a free-to-access NHS service offering a variety of treatment and support for adults (aged 18+) living in Devon (excluding Plymouth)
CALM offer a free, confidential helpline 0800 58 58 58 and webchat, 7 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who needs to talk about life's problems
HUB OF HOPE is a mental health support database that can signpost you to local support services
ANDY'S MAN CLUB offers men a chance to talk with like-minded people. They have clubs in Devon as well as nationally
KOOTH & QWELL provides free, safe and anonymous online mental wellbeing support, including moderated peer support forums and text-based counselling, to all residents living in Devon (aged 11+)
PETE'S DRAGONS provide free-to-access support to all residents living in Devon who may have been bereaved by suicide at any point in their lives
THE MOORINGS is an emotional support service that provides telephone and face-to-face support via a drop-in service at its bases in Exeter, Barnstaple and Torquay. It is a non-clinical service but provides emotional support, signposting to other services and other general support that is tailored to the people who access it.
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