A "happy, smiling"teenager drowned after falling from the Humber Bridge in the early hours after trying to call a friend and sending a loving text to her mum.
Grace Fyfe, 17, had been seen by a member of staff walking along the road across the bridge near Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, in the early hours of Sunday, March 28, 2021.
When a staff member approached her, Grace had told her she was "getting in her 10,000 steps". The worker asked Grace to stop and talk but she walked away, Hull Live reported.
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The female staff member was one of the employees patrolling the bridge in the early hours of that Sunday.
She said staff are always on duty in patrol vehicles stationed at either side of the bridge or driving up and down.
Giving evidence at the inquest, she said: “I was at the south side when I noticed a female in the road on the bridge. I approached her and asked her what she was doing out at this time and she told me she was getting in her 10,000 steps.
"I encouraged her to stay and talk to me but she was adamant she was going and walked away and down the slip road.
“I’m always concerned when someone is out at that time but she seemed very convincing. Normally, people will avoid eye contact or break down if they are in crisis, but she was calm and maintained eye contact.
“If we are concerned we tend to ask directly if they are planning to take their own life and they are then often relieved they can talk about it and then we can call for help.”
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Just an hour later, Ms Blagdon received a call from control saying there was a female on the Humber Bridge walkway near the railings. She said: "I quickly arrived and asked her to come and talk to me.
"But she was already over the railing and said nothing before letting go and falling over the edge. That was the first time I had witnessed anything like that directly in my 28-years doing this job."
The post-mortem found that, despite falling from height, Grace had suffered no traumatic injuries. Her death was due to drowning, the inquest heard. Her body was recovered by two police officers close to the Country Park Inn at Hessle Foreshore.
Grace's mum Kerry Young said: "On the day she died, she sent me a text at 4.20am which said she loved me forever and always and she was sorry.
"Not long after, the police told me Grace had jumped from the Humber Bridge.”
For emotional support, you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.
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