A vulnerable woman told police officers that she ‘just wanted to die’ after trying to kill herself in hospital.
Rosie Young demanded police officers “just let her die” after she was found unconscious in a hospital toilet after trying to hang herself in November 2021.
On Tuesday (October 3), the inquest into Ms Young’s death heard more details about what happened after she was found by police on a bridge above the M5 after fleeing hospital in the week before her death.
PC James Mandall, who was sent to Worcestershire Royal Hospital with his colleague PC Matthew Whyte on October 5 that year, said he thought Ms Young had died when found her unconscious on a ward toilet floor.
He told the inquest at Worcestershire Coroner’s Court in Stourport: “[There was] no movement, her face had completely drained of colour. [She was] slumped in the corner.”
“I want to die,” she later said to the officer. “Let me die.”
Ms Young was in hospital after overdosing but had then, during the stay, dislocated her shoulder trying to move a chair.
The injury came as hospital staff were preparing to discharge Ms Young and the dislocation forced the 20-year-old to stay in hospital – but move from Newtown Hospital to the nearby A&E at Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
The inquest heard that after hearing that she was being discharged, Ms Young asked the police officers if she could go to the toilet to change her clothes.
PC Whyte told the inquest that despite escorting Ms Young several times without any issues, he had a “bad gut feeling” about allowing her to go to the toilet alone on that occasion.
The officers had been stood outside a ward toilet and were told by Ms Young that she was fine and was changing from a hospital gown into her own clothes but after a “couple of minutes” the officers were forced to break into the toilet, only to find Ms Young unconscious after trying to hang herself.
PC Whyte and PC Mandall said Ms Young had spoken candidly with them, saying she was “enjoyable company", but later admitted she had been friendly to “gain their trust”.
PC Mandall told the inquest that Ms Young had said: “I knew what I was going to do, all I needed to do was gain your trust so you would leave me alone long enough for me to do something.”
After she was resuscitated, the officers said she was still not complying and would have fled the hospital again if left alone. Ms Young’s shoulder was dislocated again as four police officers attempted to restrain her.
Ms Young, who had been diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder, also known as borderline personality disorder, had a “long-standing” history of self-harm and suicide attempts and had been sectioned several times under the Mental Health Act.
She was being moved from Worcester to Redditch when she jumped from an ambulance and was then taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham with “serious” injuries.
The inquest, which is expected to last two weeks and is being held in front of a jury, continues.
If you need help there are people you can speak to:
The Herefordshire and Worcestershire 24-hour urgent mental health helpline is available to anyone needing urgent mental health support. It's free to call and open 24 hours a day to people of all ages - 0808 196 9127
Worcestershire Safe Haven provides telephone support and face-to-face appointments to Worcestershire residents who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Call 01905 600400 any day of the week between 6pm and midnight for support and signposting
Call 116 123 to talk to Samaritans, or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
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