Vulnerable woman found dead at beauty spot two weeks after being sectioned
A young woman was found dead in a tent at a Lake District beauty spot two weeks after being released from hospital hundreds of miles away, an inquest has heard.
Callie Lewis, 24, was sectioned under the Mental Health Act after her mother Sarah Lewis learned that she intended to kill herself within days on August 14 2018.
However, she was released from hospital and was back in the Dover community in Kent two days later.
Miss Lewis’ body was discovered near Windermere in Cumbria on August 31.
An inquest into her death is being held before a jury at The Archbishop’s Palace, Maidstone in Kent.
Miss Lewis (pictured), from Beckenham, had a history of depression and obsessional behaviour, the jury heard.
Senior coroner Patricia Harding, opening the inquest, told jurors that Sarah Lewis had received information on August 14 2018 that her daughter intended to take her own life within days.
Ms Harding said: “As a result of that the police became involved and Callie was taken to a mental health centre where she was assessed.
“She was initially sectioned but later released and on the 16th August was back in the community and in the Dover area.
“There was further information which was being received by friends that Callie was still intending to take her own life and others later learned that she had gone to Windermere where sadly she was found having died on the 31st August of 2018.”
Jurors heard that in the days before her body was found Miss Lewis had been camping at a youth hostel near Windermere.
Hostel manager William Betts said in a statement: “She appeared to be pretty quiet and she was on her own.
“She just stayed within the building keeping herself to herself.”
Mr Betts said he noticed Miss Lewis’ tent was no longer in its spot on August 29.
Police attended the site on August 31 and after some searches he and a police officer found Miss Lewis’ body in a tent.
The inquest, which is scheduled to last two weeks, continues.
Copyright (c) PA Media Ltd. 2019, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Family Handout / PA Wire.
