A mother-of-four ‘could not take it anymore’ and hanged herself after her relationship with her partner of 15 years broke down, an inquest heard.
Natalie Hughes, 34, and Sean Dawson had four children in the 15 years they shared a home in Golborne, near Wigan, Greater Manchester.
But Miss Hughes was diagnosed with postnatal depression after the birth of their fourth child.
She was prescribed the anti-depressant Citalopram but her relationship with Mr Dawson broke down last year.
Natalie Hughes, 34, was diagnosed with post-natal depression after the birth of her fourth child. She died in October last year and a coroner recorded a verdict of suicide at her inquest
Mr Dawson told the coroner at the Bolton inquest her mood changed when she ran out of her medication but improved as she started taking it again.
On October 28, 2018, the couple had been separated for 11 weeks when Mr Dawson found his former partner with fatal injuries.
Miss Hughes’ suicide note read: ‘Please don’t think I am a coward, I just couldn’t take it anymore.’
Mr Dawson found Miss Hughes at her home in Golborne after she told him not to bring their children back to her and he became concerned for her welfare.
The former hairdresser was taken to hospital but later died.
She was described as ‘beautiful inside and out’ at the inquest into her death.
Miss Hughes was in a relationship with the father of her four children, Sean Dawson, for 15 years after they met in 2003
Miss Hughes met her former partner in 2003 and they had four children together before the relationship ended last year.
Her father, Thomas Hughes, told the inquest: ‘She was a very fun, loving person who was heavily involved in her community. She did a lot of fundraisers for deprived children in the area.
‘She loved her family, her children in particular, and she enjoyed walking the dog. But she was suffering with post-natal depression and was prescribed Citalopram for this.
The couple’s relationship broke down and they had been separated for 11 weeks when Miss Hughes died
‘On or around October 28, Sean and Natalie had some form of disagreement and that upset Natalie. Natalie still went to her normal shift that day, but she came home ill from work.
‘Sean went to the address some time later, but he didn’t stay for very long. He then came back a little later where he found Natalie.’
Mr Dawson told the court that an hour after he left her home at 6pm he returned to find she had hanged herself.
Miss Hughes was described as ‘beautiful inside and out’ at the inquest into her death
He said: ‘We were in a relationship for around 15 years apart from the last 11 weeks where the relationship broke down. We had four children and the family home was in Golborne. Since she had our fourth child, she was very low in her mood.
‘She was anxious about leaving the house and she saw her GP who diagnosed her with post-natal depression and she was given medication for this in January 2018.
‘During our separation, I resided in a different property. When she ran out of her Citalopram her mood changed, but she was back to normal after getting more medication.
‘On October 28, she was having a bad morning and went to work. I have a tracking app on my phone and I could see that she was at the Golborne address rather than at work. I contacted her via text message and she said she went home because she wasn’t feeling well. She said that she had taken some paracetamol.
‘I came over and the door was unlocked and she was in bed upstairs.’
He added that he had found a packet of paracetamol tablets, with some missing.
‘I told her off for taking the paracetamol and then we stayed in bed together talking until 6pm,’ he said.
‘She begged me not to call the emergency services or her mum, and said she had vomited some of them out.
Mr Dawson found Miss Hughes at her home in Golborne after she told him not to bring their children back and he became concerned for her welfare
‘At her request, I left the property at 6pm and I went back to my property to tend to our children.
‘I rang her at 6.15 to check up on her and I received a text message from her telling me not to bring the children back.
‘I stayed with the kids and gave them their tea at 6.45pm. I tried calling her again, but she didn’t respond, so I gave it around 10 minutes before I went to her address. At around 7.05pm, I sadly found her.’
Mr Dawson told the coroner at the Bolton inquest Miss Hughes’ mood changed when she ran out of her medication but improved as she started taking it again
When asked whether Mr Dawson should have alerted Miss Hughes’ mother about the level of paracetamol being taken, he replied: ‘Do you not think that I have thought that for the last 21 weeks? She said to me “don’t call my Mum or I won’t speak to you again.”‘
Miss Hughes’ GP, Dr Madhu Pal, said: ‘She was a 34 year old woman who suffered from anxiety and she received Citalopram for this on January 17, 2018. She had been feeling anxious for 14 months and she was suffering from post-natal depression.
‘I next saw her on January 29 where I undertook a depression test questionnaire on her and she never mentioned feeling suicidal. She reported that she felt stressed due to her partner leaving and she was advised to seek counselling, but she didn’t want this.’
At the time of her death friends said Miss Hughes was well known figure at a local Muay Thai gym and raised money for various charities
Stefan Wilson, police coroner’s officer, said: ‘A note was found at the property in Natalie’s hand writing and it expressed her intention to take her own life. In the note she said ‘please don’t think I am a coward, I just couldn’t take it anymore.’
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Rachel Syed said: ‘Natalie was a loving mother who was doted on by her family but we heard evidence she suffered from anxiety and post-natal depression and was using Citalopram.
‘On the day of her death, she was struggling and she consumed high levels of paracetamol and codeine and I don’t believe this was an accident. It’s clear from Sean Dawson’s evidence that she didn’t want him to call the emergency services.
‘I don’t believe this was an accident so I must ask if this was a suicide. In her own words, she couldn’t take it anymore. So, I must return a suicide conclusion.’
At the time of her death friends said Miss Hughes was well known figure at a local Muay Thai gym and raised money for various charities.
Family friend Stuart Sable said: ‘She had a massive heart for others and was loved by everybody who knew her. She has four beautiful children that are left without their mummy also a grieving husband and family. She was one in a million.’
Anyone affected by Natalie Hughes’s death can call Samaritans on 116 123 (24 hours a day).
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