AN inquest into the death of a 20-year-old who died after leaping from the Orwell Bridge has heard statements from witnesses to the tragedy.

Tom Potter

AN inquest into the death of a 20-year-old who died after leaping from the Orwell Bridge has heard statements from witnesses to the tragedy.

Greater Suffolk coroner Peter Dean concluded that Laura Garner, a financial advisor from North Hill Gardens, Ipswich, took her own life on the morning of June 10.

The coroner explained that it was clear from letters written by Laura before her death that “she both understood and intended the circumstances of her actions”.

“She had some personal difficulties which she expressed in the letters,” said Mr Dean.

Mr Dean read the accounts of drivers crossing the bridge at the time of Laura's death, saying: “A driver sadly saw a female on the edge of the bridge facing outwards and looking straight ahead.”

The driver alerted police after seeing Laura lift herself off the bridge and disappear from view.

Another witness described seeing Laura throw a black item of clothing off the bridge before pushing down with both hands and leaning forward.

The inquest also heard from a pathologist who determined that Laura's death was caused by multiple injuries sustained from landing on a concrete structure at the bottom of a bridge support.

Mr Dean added that the pathologist had found nothing untoward in Laura's toxicology results.

“The verdict I have recorded is that Laura took her own life,” he said.

“I wish to offer my condolences to her family and our thoughts are with them in these very, very sad circumstances.”