Hairdresser who fell from 17th floor tower block was suffering from anxiety and depression - Black Country Coroner
A hairdresser who fell from the 17th storey window of a high rise in Oldbury had a background of anxiety and depression
Wendy Hodgetts suffered serious head injuries after falling from the tower block, on Wallace Close, Brades estate, in Oldbury into scaffolding on September 16.
Her fall was witnessed by builders working on the site who tried to reach her through a mechanical lifting device and had to move out of the way as she fell, an inquest at the Black Country Coroner Service heard.
Miss Hodgetts, aged 40, was not living at the property but regularly stayed there. She had been referred to the Dudley Talking Therapies counselling service in April and although she had not used their services since. Her mother said prior to her death Miss Hodgetts had told her that her anxiety had spiralled.
On the day of her death the inquest at Oldbury heard, site manager for Lovell Construction Alex Russell had been sitting in his office working when people working outside alerted him.
Mr Russell and his colleagues got some lifting equipment in an attempt to reach her.
Miss Hodgetts was taken to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital and later died from her injuries.
Senior Coroner Joanne Lees said Miss Hodgetts was going through a period of depression.
She said she could come to no other conclusion than that the death was as the result of a deliberate act.
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