A TEENAGE girl described as “funny and kind-hearted” died in hospital after trying to take her own life at a care home in Pembrokeshire, an inquest has heard.
Sky Louise Lewis, 16, passed away on July 31, 2019 – three days after she was found unconscious in her room at a care home near Haverfordwest.
Sky had moved to the home from Cardiff in 2019 after a long battle with her mental health. She had previously lived with her mother in Newport and Cardiff, where she was a pupil at Eastern High School and studying for her GCSEs.
On Tuesday (Jun 3), the inquest into her death opened at County Hall in Haverfordwest. It heard that Sky had a history of depression and self-harming, and had previously told her mother that she no longer wanted to live and would “keep trying until she succeeded”.
Giving evidence, social worker Christopher Evans told the court that Sky had been placed in care due to a “difficult home environment” which was described as a “high-anxiety household”. He said professionals considered her to be at high risk of harm.
The senior coroner for Pembrokeshire, Gareth Lewis, was told that Sky had been taking prescribed medication for depression and to help her sleep.
Her mother, Michaela Fry, gave a heartfelt tribute, saying: “She loved doing silly things to make people laugh. She had a big, infectious laugh, the kind that filled the room and made everybody feel better.”
She added: “Life without Sky seems empty and full of ‘I wonders’. I love her so much and miss her tremendously. There’s a space here now that cannot be filled. I will always belong to her.”
Sky was found unresponsive in her room on July 28 and taken to hospital. Her family were told two days later that she was brain dead, and she died on July 31. After her death, her organs were donated to help save the lives of others.
The inquest is expected to last up to three weeks and will hear evidence from representatives of Hywel Dda University Health Board, Cardiff and Vale Health Board, Cardiff Council and members of Sky’s family.
The hearing continues.
