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Latvian mother Svetlana Averina took her own life in woodland near a children's playground, inquest heard

A Latvian woman with a short history of depression took her own life in a woodland close to a children's playground, an inquest heard.

Svetlana Averina, 32, was found dead off Brabner Close in Folkestone on Tuesday, July 13 after two passers-by spotted her up the muddy footpath.

She lived in Balfour Road, Dover, with her husband Andre Ivchenko, from Russia, and their two young daughters.

The woodland off Brabner Close where Svetlana Averina's body was found
The woodland off Brabner Close where Svetlana Averina's body was found

The inquest at Folkestone Magistrates' Court yesterday morning heard she sent her husband a text message to say goodbye before taking her life. The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

A report from police sergeant Paul Gammon said that witnesses had asked if she was OK, but she replied in Russian and "beckoned them to go away".

The police were called to the "isolated" area at just after 7pm with more than 15 emergency vehicles turning up.

Ms Averina came to the UK to work as a qualified hairdresser in 2004 and had met her husband at a party in 2007. They married the following year.

After the birth of her first child, Ms Averina was diagnosed with post-natal depression and was given the appropriate medication, which she was later able to come off.

Mr Gammon said: "Over the six months prior to her death she was suffering with psychological problems. She became paranoid that people were trying to hurt her.

"She had made claims that she would throw herself off a cliff but Andre never believed her and tried to get her to go back to the GP."

The case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates' Court
The case was heard at Folkestone Magistrates' Court

On the Monday before her death, Ms Averina was only weeks into starting a job as a receptionist in Hastings, but walked out and quit because of stress, the inquest heard.

It wasn't until 3.34pm the next day that Andre received a text from his wife, which the assistant coroner Christine Freedman described as a "farewell message".

The post mortem examination, conducted by Nicola Chaston, gave the cause of death as hanging.

Mrs Freedman said: "I am satisfied there was no third party involvement and no suspicious circumstances. She took deliberate steps to take her own life and she did by her own hand and nobody else's.

"She went to this location expecting not to be found and then there is evidence to show that she had not been herself in the months leading up to her death. She had a fluctuating state of mind."

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

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