Girl, 14, who ‘did not wish to return to high school’

A girl of 14 who ‘didn’t want to go back to school’ after the Covid lockdowns killed herself, an inquest concluded.

Erin Tillsley was ‘very bubbly, loved TikTok, doing her hair and dancing’, her father Daniel Tillsley said in a statement read to today’s hearing in Ipswich by the coroner.

But the devastated parent said that ‘things became really difficult after Covid-19 lockdowns – she didn’t want to go back to school’, and added: ‘I struggled to get her to attend’.

Erin moved schools in May 2023, but only attended her new school for four days between the start of the May half-term and her death on July 14 that year, Suffolk’s area coroner Darren Stewart said.

On the day of her death, the father had rang Erin – whilst at work – to see if she was awake and ready for school at 7am. He then received a text message from his daughter saying she ‘can’t do this’ and in another call at 8.50am the teenager clarified that she was not going in.

Following their correspondence,  Mr Tillsley decided to return to their home in Great Cornard as he had a ‘really bad feeling’.

Upon arriving at 10.25am, he discovered his daughter in her bedroom and immediately called emergency services who arrived within minutes. The 14-year-old was pronounced dead at 11.33am that morning.

Pictured: Suffolk coroner’s court

Suffolk’s area coroner Darren Stewart said Erin had ‘self-diagnosed as having suffered with anxiety and depression’. He said her family noted the ‘significant’ impact the pandemic had on Erin, and that she ‘experienced difficulties being able to re-engage with school’. 

The break-up of her parents, body confidence issues and the suicide of a neighbour in 2022, were also mentioned by the coroner.

Increased concerns that Erin was drinking alcohol also saw her GP asked to make a referral to social services, the court heard.

Erin was then referred to the mental health trust, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, on January, 4, 2023.

Mr Steward raised concerns about ‘delays’ by the mental health trust and said he was waiting to receive further information from them.

Police found no evidence of third-party involvement in connection with Erin’s death. 

Investigations were carried out to determine if Erin had been a victim of online bullying at the hands of other children, but this was later ruled out.

Mr Stewart said Erin ‘struggled with her attendance’ after the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, and that the reason for this had not been established. He expressed his condolences to her family, who did not attend the hearing.

A decision regarding another report to prevent future deaths is pending, as the coroner awaits further information from West Suffolk Hospital and the mental health trust.

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