Father arrived to pick up daughter, 19, at station to discover she had thrown herself under a train after struggling with council tax debt having lost her university place, inquest hears

  • Lara Calthrop, 19, had been out drinking with friends at a pub prior to her death
  • She lost her place at Queen Mary's University but continued to live with friends
  • The young woman was unaware she needed to pay council tax and fell into debt
  • Coroner ruled that her death, just four days after Christmas, was due to suicide

By Charlie Bayliss For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Lara Calthrop, 19, had been out drinking with friends and was hit by a train at Hildenborough station in Kent just four days after Christmas last year

Lara Calthrop, 19, had been out drinking with friends and was hit by a train at Hildenborough station in Kent just four days after Christmas last year

A loving father who received a call from his daughter that she had just been dropped off at a train station was horrified to find she had taken her own life just minutes later, an inquest heard.

Lara Calthrop, 19, had failed her first year at Queen Mary's University in London and continued to live with friends, unaware that she needed to pay council tax.

Just four days after Christmas, she had been out drinking with friends at a Wetherspoon's pub in Tunbridge Wells when she was hit by a train at Hildenborough station. 

She had called her father Ben to tell him she was walking back home after being dropped off by a taxi at the station.

Mr Calthrop tried to call her back shortly after, but received no answer. He then walked 33 minutes to go to meet his daughter at the station after she was dropped off by a taxi, but was greeted by police officers informing him of the bad news. 

Delivering an emotional speech in court, her mother Deborah said the family was finding it difficult to deal with the 'shock and disbelief' Lara had taken her own life, but now wanted to raise awareness of teenage suicide.

She said: 'We spoke on a daily basis and are heartbroken that she didn't open up to us about the difficulties she was facing. For us, those problems were all solvable but a 19-year-old doesn't always rationalise in the same way that adults do. 

'What Lara taught us, being our first-born child, is that there is such a thing as unconditional love and we would have tried to help her no matter what.'

British Transport Police coordinator, Shaun Caroll, said Lara had been staying with her parents in Hildenborough and working as an admin assistant at the time of her death. 

Since the tragedy, Mrs Calthrop has been raising funds for the teenage sucide awareness charity, Papyrus. She has since embarked on a sponsored walk in the Brecon Beacons, a run in London and a sponsored cycle in Kent.

Lara Calthorp with her father Ben. He received a call from her just minutes before she passed away

Lara Calthorp with her father Ben. He received a call from her just minutes before she passed away

Lara Calthorp with her mother Debbie. Mrs Calthorp is now trying to raise awareness about the dangers of teenager suicide

Lara Calthorp with her mother Debbie. Mrs Calthorp is now trying to raise awareness about the dangers of teenager suicide

Her father Ben received a message from his daughter that she had been dropped off at the station but when he arrived just 30 minutes later she had taken her own life

Her father Ben received a message from his daughter that she had been dropped off at the station but when he arrived just 30 minutes later she had taken her own life

Lara Calthrop had been hit by a train at the Hildenborough station in Kent

Lara Calthrop had been hit by a train at the Hildenborough station in Kent

Mrs Calthrop added: 'She [Lara] was the type of person who was a fiercely loyal friend and would always reach out to anyone in need putting their emotional needs before hers.

'For now, we are missing Lara desperately but want to focus on healing as a family and looking after our other two teenage children who need our support more than ever now and also mean the world to us.'

Lara Calthorp passed away after being hit by a train just four days after Christmas last year. A coroner ruled her death was caused by suicide

Lara Calthorp passed away after being hit by a train just four days after Christmas last year. A coroner ruled her death was caused by suicide

Summing up senior coroner, Roger Hatch said after hearing the evidence 'he was sadly left with the conclusion that Lara's death was due to suicide.'

Papyrus run a suicide helpline for both teenagers and anyone concerned about a young person. It can be reached on 0800 0684141 or by email on pat@papyrus-uk.org.

For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 116 123, visit a local Samaritans branch or clickhere for details 

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