Tributes paid to student Hannah Chipperfield, found dead in Brighton flat

Hannah Chipperfield, a student at the University of Sussex, was found dead at her flat in Sillwood Place, Brighton.

Family and friends said in a joint statement: “Hannah was a kind, caring and compassionate soul who was always ready to help anyone in need or anyone who was vulnerable.

“She loved outdoor pursuits, art and music and was passionate about nature, conservation and the environment.

“Hannah was greatly loved by friends and family alike and we are all devastated by her death.

“She will be forever loved and cherished.”

The 23-year-old from Chichester had suffered with complex mental health problems from a young age.

She had a diagnosis of anxiety, depression and emotionally unstable personality disorder traits, and had suffered with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The biology and genetics student was also on medication for type one diabetes, a condition she found hard to manage.

At her inquest senior coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley recorded a conclusion of suicide and said Hannah had experienced several problems which amounted to a “perfect storm” before her death on September 10 last year.

Hannah was a student at the University of Sussex

In April last year Hannah reported she had been the victim of an abusive relationship. Police became involved and investigations are ongoing, the court heard.

The coroner said: “Hannah changed and became much more stressed and anxious after she developed this relationship, which began in July 2019.

“She complained about his abusive behaviour to police and was concerned for her own safety, but she also wanted him helped.

“I’m entirely convinced the police carried out a thorough investigation. They were not able to press criminal charges.”

On September 9, the day before she died, Hannah had arranged to meet a friend at the beach but became distressed when she saw her alleged abuser by chance.

Hannah’s friend took her home and she remained in communication with several friends over the Telegram messenger app and texts throughout the evening and overnight.

Speaking at the inquest, DS Jenny Pietersen said: “Unfortunately that night in question Hannah was having a very difficult time managing her emotions and they seemed to escalate.

“There were potentially several different triggers that day.”

Hannah’s last message was sent to a friend just after 4am on September 10, but was not received until later that morning.

On receiving the message the friend became immediately concerned and rushed to her flat. Paramedics confirmed she had died at 8.45am.

Hannah had struggled with her diabetes and in March she had been admitted to hospital in Brighton with diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious problem caused by a lack of insulin in the body.

The court heard her mental health had deteriorated and in May she was treated in intensive care after taking a staggered overdose.

Hannah was transferred to the Oaklands Centre in Chichester, an acute mental health facility, for six weeks.

After moving home temporarily, Hannah received support from community mental health services in Chichester.

Her mental health issues had taken a toll on her studies and she had to resubmit university work in August, which had caused additional stress, the court heard.

The coroner said: “I know Hannah was very self-critical and set high standards for herself.

“She was on an extremely demanding course and found herself unable to submit some of her work on time.

“This was a difficult time as she wanted to get back to Brighton and she was anxious and excited to get her own place for the first time - something she knew would bring its own challenges.

“She was aware of the dangers of her own impulsivity.”

Dr Louise McCusker, a clinical psychologist in the Brighton mental health crisis team, assessed Hannah in early September when she had moved back to the city.

She said Hannah lacked emotional coping skills, but was also optimistic.

She said: "Hannah was planning to live her life by herself.

"She was bright and articulate and full of energy. I felt hopeful there was a lot of promise there."

Speaking at the inquest, Hannah's mother Frances Chipperfield said: "Hannah loved paddle boarding and I'm so glad she got to do these things that summer.

"I think she felt sometimes she was over looked after and she wanted to show she could cope, which is really sad. She wanted to give life its best."

One friend described Hannah as like “lightning in a bottle”, while another said she was “hardworking, very diligent and extremely caring”.

The Samaritans charity provides support to anyone in emotional distress or struggling to cope. Their helpline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 116 123.