A teenager who jumped from a bridge 15 years after surviving a seven-storey fall in her mother's arms was pregnant when she died, a court has heard.

Yazmina Howard, 18, from Maidstone, was pronounced dead on October 1 last year after falling from the Lunsford Lane bridge which crosses the M20 at Larkfield.

Her mother, Maxine Carr, also leapt to her death from her flat in 2003, clutching hold of three-year-old Yazmina, after believing her abusive former boyfriend planned to kidnap their daughter.

The toddler miraculously escaped alive, but suffered a number of broken bones in her arm, rib and jaw and damage to the back of her skull.

Then, a decade-and-a-half on, Yazmina tragically fell to the same fate, less than a month after having to be talked down from the same bridge by Xander Jones, with whom she had broken up earlier that day.

An inquest at the Archbishop's Palace was told she had a history of suicide attempts, and was sectioned after trying to jump from the bridge on September 9, but not detained, despite the pleas of her grandparents, Janet and Michael Howard.

In the subsequent days, friends and family insisted she showed no indication of taking her life, until she posted what was effectively a suicide note on Instagram on the night of October 1.

She had spent much of that day with a friend, during which Yazmina behaved somewhat unusually, having been told that morning she wouldn't be able to progress to the next year of her multimedia course at Mid Kent College.

Mrs Howard previously described her grand-daughter as a proud vegan who rarely consumed alcohol.

However her friend said that evening Yazmina had eaten a beef burger, describing it as a "cheat" meal, and was seen drinking wine from the bottle, though she wasn't described as drunk.

She then revealed she thought she might be pregnant as her period was late, though she had not taken a test.

It later emerged that she was indeed 14 weeks pregnant, but her grandparents and Mr Jones were not aware of this until after she died.

A driver, Daniel Curly, had spotted Yazmina walking towards the bridge a few minutes before she jumped just after 10pm.

He said: "She looked scared - I've never seen anyone look so white."

A police search of her phone found Google searches relating to what she was planning to do.

Assistant coroner Eileen Sproson recorded a verdict of suicide and ruled that, despite some of the family's concerns, there were no problems with Yazmina's care at the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

"She had previously tried to end her life and I take the message on Instagram as evidence of an intention by her to take her own life," Mrs Sproson said.

"It was a suicide note and leads me to concluded the intended consequence was her own death."

Grandfather Michael Howard, 71, said outside court: "As a family, we still think it could have been prevented.

"We begged them to keep her in after she was taken to hospital and I think everyone in that situation should be kept in for at least two or three days.

"The patient might tell you they're fine but you don't know what's really going on.

"These last few months have been like having a big cloud over us so to some extent we're glad it's over.

"I didn't know she was pregnant but I think her grandmother had her suspicions - it was a big shock.

"It's just such a waste, she had everything to live for."

Helen Greatorex, chief executive of KMPT, said: “Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with Yazmina’s family and friends.

"Her death was a tragedy, and the awful grief that those who loved her are now living with is unimaginable.

“We hope that at some point, either now or in the future, Mr and Mrs Howard might feel able to talk to us about what happened, and to ask us any questions that they might have following this inquest.”

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