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| Christian teen hung herself over fears about telling parents she may be a lesbian | |
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| A Christian teenager hung herself over “misplaced” fears of telling her parents she may be a lesbian, an inquest has heard. | A Christian teenager hung herself over “misplaced” fears of telling her parents she may be a lesbian, an inquest has heard. |
| Elisabeth Lowe, known as Lizzie, had told her friends she may be gay, the Manchester Evening News reports. | Elisabeth Lowe, known as Lizzie, had told her friends she may be gay, the Manchester Evening News reports. |
| The 14-year-old’s friends said she was worried about telling her parents about her sexuality. | The 14-year-old’s friends said she was worried about telling her parents about her sexuality. |
| One friend told the inquest: "She said she wasn't sure if they (parents) would be ok with it. I told her that I didn't think it would be like that but she did not want to tell them." | One friend told the inquest: "She said she wasn't sure if they (parents) would be ok with it. I told her that I didn't think it would be like that but she did not want to tell them." |
| Another told the paper that Lizzie was “finding it hard to connect with God as she thought she was lying to him”. | Another told the paper that Lizzie was “finding it hard to connect with God as she thought she was lying to him”. |
| Lizzie’s father Kevin said if their “out-going and fun-loving” daughter had spoken to them about her sexuality, it “wouldn’t have come as much surprise”. | Lizzie’s father Kevin said if their “out-going and fun-loving” daughter had spoken to them about her sexuality, it “wouldn’t have come as much surprise”. |
| “She was very mature, she knew what she wanted and she knew her own mind,” he told the inquest. “We would have been very supportive.” | “She was very mature, she knew what she wanted and she knew her own mind,” he told the inquest. “We would have been very supportive.” |
| Lizzie was found hanged in the Millgate Fields area of Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at 11.15pm on 10 September, after one of her friends told her mother about a text from Lizzie which ended with “...stay strong. I am sorry.” | Lizzie was found hanged in the Millgate Fields area of Fletcher Moss Park in Didsbury at 11.15pm on 10 September, after one of her friends told her mother about a text from Lizzie which ended with “...stay strong. I am sorry.” |
| The mother then alerted Lizzie’s parents and the police and a search was conducted. Paramedics could not rusticate the teen, who had no diagnosed mental health problems. She had no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time. | The mother then alerted Lizzie’s parents and the police and a search was conducted. Paramedics could not rusticate the teen, who had no diagnosed mental health problems. She had no drugs or alcohol in her system at the time. |
| Some of her friends admitted to the coroner that they too shared feelings of “sadness” with the teenager and would talk regularly about self-harming and having suicidal thoughts. | Some of her friends admitted to the coroner that they too shared feelings of “sadness” with the teenager and would talk regularly about self-harming and having suicidal thoughts. |
| Det Insp David Turner, the police officer in charge of overseeing the investigation into her death, told the inquest he could rule out any third party involvement. | Det Insp David Turner, the police officer in charge of overseeing the investigation into her death, told the inquest he could rule out any third party involvement. |
| He said: “Despite the fact that suicide was clearly an issue with these children, I found no evidence of what is sometimes called a ‘suicide pact'." | He said: “Despite the fact that suicide was clearly an issue with these children, I found no evidence of what is sometimes called a ‘suicide pact'." |
| Senior coroner Nigel Meadows recorded a verdict that Lizzie killed herself. “She was a successful student but was going through issues of developing maturity and exploring her sexuality and was struggling to come to terms with that against her faith beliefs. | Senior coroner Nigel Meadows recorded a verdict that Lizzie killed herself. “She was a successful student but was going through issues of developing maturity and exploring her sexuality and was struggling to come to terms with that against her faith beliefs. |
| “It is clear she was struggling and she was talking to others about it. | “It is clear she was struggling and she was talking to others about it. |
| “She never had the opportunity to share her concerns with her parents. | “She never had the opportunity to share her concerns with her parents. |
| “But I have absolutely no doubt they would have been supportive in their reaction.” | “But I have absolutely no doubt they would have been supportive in their reaction.” |
| Anyone in need of confidential support can contact the Samaritans in the UK 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90. | Anyone in need of confidential support can contact the Samaritans in the UK 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90. |