Aspiring nurse's death was a tragedy

Narrative verdict recorded at inquest

A young woman who aspired to be a nurse died tragically after an 'impulsive act', an inquest at Douglas courthouse heard this afternoon.  

Twenty-three-year-old Lucah Perry was found dead at her home in Anagh Coar in June last year. 

The coroner of inquests had resumed the inquiry into the care worker's death and today recorded a narrative verdict.

He heard Miss Perry battled with anxiety and depression on a daily basis since her teens, as well as with what her mother described as a drinking problem.

In the early hours of Saturday morning on 23 June, Miss Perry's partner found her in their house, where she had appeared to have made an attempt on her own life.

Following a 999 call, paramedics arrived and applied the defibrillator, but there was no response and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

The court heard how her past incidents of self harm and attempts at suicide, were 'cries for help' from a young woman who had been assessed by both the community mental health and the alcohol advisory service.

Miss Perry struggled to engage with them, though, and had told her mother that she felt the authorities 'didn't take her seriously.'

A week prior to her death, Miss Perry's mother had referred her to the Crisis Response Team following an alcohol relapse.

The young woman had a desire to kick her drinking thereafter and was said to have been on a detox.

However, her boyfriend suggested buying some alcohol to celebrate their two-year anniversary for that Friday night.

Evidence from her partner was heard in court in writing as he was advised not to appear on medical grounds.

A high concentration of alcohol was found in her system, which the coroner said would have led her to 'not thinking straight.'

After gaining access to her mobile phone, the police found open web pages in her browser concerning methods of suicide.

Messages sent from her Whatsapp showed that she was in correspondence with three of her family members shortly before her death.

One exchange was with her twin sister, whom she had told of feeling suicidal, to which her sister replied, 'don't feel bad for needing help'.

The family described Miss Perry as 'beautiful, clever and funny'.

In memory of their late daughter, they managed to crowdfund over £2,000 to raise awareness of mental health conditions on the Island.

Upon delivering his verdict, the coroner of inquests referred to Miss Perry as a 'conscientious care worker'.

'No one should blame themselves' he said, 'this was a tragedy and it was clear she wanted to put her difficulties behind her.'

He offered his sincerest condolences to the family.