Laura was "amazing, beautiful and kind" and would go above and beyond for anybody
A woman has died after falling down an 80ft blowhole on the north coast of Cornwall. Laura Jayne Newcombe was having a walk with her partner at Trevose Head, near Padstow, when she fell down the treacherous Round Hole - a huge circular hole in the cliff which was originally a sea cave before it slowly eroded.
An inquest into her death was held at Pydar House, Truro, today (Tuesday). It heard how no one saw Laura fall from the edge of the hole on June 29, 2021.
Witness David Green, who was on holiday with his mother, was taking photographs on Trevose Head when the incident happened. "I could see that there was a huge hole to the sea," he said in a statement which was read out in court. "I found the hole quite shocking."
Read more: Man arrested after St Ives punch up that sees punter smash through shop window
The large hole, which is very close to the cliff edge, is not fenced off and accidents have happened there before. There have been debates over the years about whether it should be made safer or not. You can read about this here.
Mr Green recalls seeing Laura very close to the edge of the blowhole. He walked further to take pictures of Constantine and Booby's Bay and, when he came back, Laura was nowhere to be seen.
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Signposting
24/7 NHS Mental health response line: For support and advice. Call free any time, day or night if you are worried about your own or someone else’s mental health. The team behind the 24/7 open access telephone response line will listen to you and determine how best to help. t: 0800 038 5300 (free) 24 hours a day
Samaritans: Emotional support to anyone in emotional distress, struggling to cope, or at risk of suicide. t: 116 123 24 hours a day e: jo@samaritans.org
Outlook South West offer online support and NHS talking therapies – call 01208 871905 for people aged 16+ years. The Suicide Liaison Service is also available via this number. This is also an NHS funded service, but for adults 18+ who have been bereaved by suicide.
Man Down: supporting men's mental health in Cornwall - www.mandown-cornwall.co.uk
‘We are with you’ for support with alcohol, drugs or mental health call 01872 263001 or visit https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/cornwall-truro/.
Childline: Free, private and confidential service for anyone under 19 where you can talk about anything. Whatever your worry, whenever you need help, anytime. t: 0800 1111 email or chat via www.childline.org.uk
Shout: 24/7 text service, free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis anytime, anywhere. It’s a place to go if you’re struggling to cope and you need immediate help. Text: 85258
CALM Campaign Against Living Miserably: For men who are down or who need to talk, find information and support. t: 0800 58 58 58 5pm - midnight every day or webchat at www.thecalmzone.net
If you are a young person or worried about a child you can call the Early Help Hub for advice and help (call 01872 322277 or email earlyhelphub@cornwall.gov.uk).
Call 0300 777 4777 or visit https://saferfutures.org.uk/ if you or someone else is affected by domestic abuse, sexual violence and those demonstrating abusive behaviours.
Valued Lives: Supports people who are experiencing mental or emotional distress in Cornwall. t: 0800 260 6759 24/7 crisis line
Papyrus Hopeline UK: For people under the age of 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. t: 0800 068 4141 e: pat@papyrus-uk.org
Mr Green phoned 999 when he and Laura's partner both realised she must have fallen into the hole. The RNLI and the coastguard, including a rescue helicopter, attended the scene.
Laura was tragically found dead at the bottom of the Round Hole. A toxicology report from Dr Stephen Morley of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust confirmed that no alcohol or illegal drugs were found in her system. She had not taken excessive amounts of her prescribed medication either.
A GP report from Dr Martin Priest, of Petroc Group Practice in St Columb Major, stated that Laura suffered episodes of poor mental health which she was being treated for. In March 2021, she attempted to take her own life and subsequently took at least one overdose.
Several psychiatric assessments were carried out, during which she mentioned abusive or coercive behaviour from her partner. She was also followed by a community mental health team which, according to her sister Tamara Milby, did "as best as they could". There were no criminal proceedings against her partner for abuse.
Her partner, told the inquest that he had been helping Laura regain strength in the weeks prior to her death, following her suicide attempt. They had been on walks every day for four weeks, which is why they were at Trevose Head that day.
"I didn't actually see it, no," he told senior coroner Andrew Cox. "She was fine. I had photographs literally minutes before of her with a smile on her face."
DC James Winkett, the officer in the case, confirmed that there was no evidence of criminal behaviour or third-party involvement. He said that, from the evidence he gathered, Laura had a low mental health at the time of her death.
"Laura, it is accepted, had some mental health issues and it is accepted that they had worsened during recent times particularly in March 2021," Mr Cox said. "After that time, there had been at least one - potentially two - overdoses.
"It's right to note that there were social stresses in Laura's life." However, Mr Cox reminded that for a coroner to rule that a death is a suicide, there must be direct evidence to prove intent.
"Suicide must never be presumed," he explained. "We have no direct evidence."
Unable to prove intent, Mr Cox recorded an open conclusion. This does not mean it is a temporary, provisional conclusion, but it means that the evidence collected does not fully or clearly explain how the person died.
During the inquest, Ms Milby paid tribute to her sister, describing her as amazing, beautiful and kind. "She was a fantastic friend, sister, daughter," she said. "She would always go far and beyond for anybody."
The walls of the Round Hole are extremely unstable and anybody visiting is asked to keep a safe distance and not attempt to go down.
Flooding around Newquay following heavy downpours
No trains in or out of Cornwall again later this week
Newquay Zoo suddenly closes due to sewage issue
Sir David Attenborough's new BBC series to feature Cornwall coast
Wadebridge children spotted tombstoning off scaffolding