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A teaching assistant who fell to her death from a cliff after repeated “cries for help” did not take her own life, an inquest has ruled.
Mum-of-one Danyell Sinckler, who lived in Ramsgate, died a year ago today after falling near South Foreland Lighthouse in Saint Margaret's Bay, Dover.
A hearing at County Hall in Maidstone was told the tragedy unfolded after the 32-year-old had an argument with her boyfriend, Leon Morris, at the Cramptons pub in Broadstairs.
The disagreement became heated and spilled out into the car park, leading to former Canterbury Christ Church student Danyell driving away.
Over the next few hours up to and including her arrival at the lighthouse, she sent a series of messages to her friends, family and Mr Morris stating her intention to end her own life.
In a text sent to her mum, Stephanie Eaton, she said: “I’m thinking about ending it all.”
Ms Eaton replied: “Where are you? I’ll be there in 20 minutes.”
Danyell replied to say she was in Dover, but added: “You’ll be too late.”
Between 9.30pm and 9.40pm, Danyell called 999 three times and 112 twice, but none of these calls connected – with no evidence of them being found in 999 call logs or phone bill data.
The inquest also heard that at around the same time, she had sent a number of messages to Mr Morris informing him where she was and that she planned to jump from the cliffs.
Her boyfriend told police that due to poor signal he never received the messages Danyell sent him, which included her exact location, and spent the rest of the night in various Broadstairs bars.
Speaking at the hearing’s conclusion on Thursday, coroner Katrina Hepburn said two out of the four messages Danyell sent did appear to have been delivered.
Mr Morris was asked to give evidence at the hearing, but Ms Hepburn revealed he had refused requests to attend or send a written statement.
Ms Eaton spent much of the night Danyell died desperately searching for her daughter, but was forced to return home without finding her.
However, she waited until morning to report her missing, as Danyell had been drink-driving and had begged her not to call the police.
At 10.15am the next morning, Danyell’s body was found by a National Trust worker on the shore. Her cause of death was given as multiple injuries.
Giving a narrative conclusion, Ms Hepburn said there were a number of factors that stopped her from ruling Danyell’s death as a suicide.
She pointed to Danyell’s fear of being in trouble with the police as an example of “future thinking”.
Ms Hepburn added there had been four previous incidents of Danyell taking an overdose and informing friends or family, who insisted they were not suicide attempts but cries for help.
Delivering her conclusion, she said: “There is evidence to suggest intention, but I bear in mind that there had been previous cries for help, and the fact that she disclosed what she was thinking of doing to a number of people.
“There were also a number of calls to emergency services that were unable to connect – which could have been to seek help. This advises me that she was not suicidal at this point. I believe her actions were a cry for help.”
Speaking to Danyell’s family in court, Ms Hepburn said: “ I hope this process has answered some of the questions you have, in so far as I have been able to do so in this inquest.
“My role is a narrow one, but I have attempted to answer the issues raised. I appreciate we are approaching the anniversary of her death, and I thank you for your patience.
“Dealing with any bereavement is difficult. The loss of Danyell, a beloved daughter, mother and friend in these circumstances has undoubtedly been a tragedy and I take the opportunity, once again, to offer you my condolences.”
Speaking to KentOnline after the inquest’s first hearing in March, Ms Eaton paid tribute to her “big-hearted” daughter, who worked as a teaching assistant and had built her own business as an aesthetician.
She said: "Danyell would go above and beyond for people - she always had a lot of time for everyone.
"She was generous, with her heart and her money. She never liked to think of anyone else being unhappy. If any of her friends were down she’d always want to get them out and have a good time.
"She was big-hearted, a lovely daughter and I was immensely proud of her getting her degree. She was a mum at a young age and she had battled all of these obstacles to get where she wanted to get to.
"She worked in the care industry with young adults with challenging behaviour and they used to really look forward to Danyell going on shift because she seemed to have quite an empathy with them.
"There was one girl who had been non-verbal and Danyell managed to get her singing, which was a real achievement.
"She had worked with elderly people as well and they really loved her, because she was cheeky and she would chat with them and have a laugh."
At the time of her death, Danyell was living in Queensbridge Drive, Ramsgate, with a friend.
Danyell first moved to Kent in 2015, setting up home in Folkestone, before relocating to Ramsgate a year before her death.
She had struggled with her mental health since she was 14 and been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in recent years, the inquest was told.
Despite being prescribed medication for this condition, the post-mortem toxicology report revealed Danyell had not been taking this for at least a week before her death.
For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans any time on 116 123.