A young personal assistant who took her own life told her loved ones: "No-one could have prevented this, so please shine bright and smile. I will still be smiling wherever I am."
A number of heartbreaking notes were left behind by 26-year-old Matilda Rose Tomlinson, a PA for property developers Urban Splash, who was discovered dead by work colleagues when she failed to log on for work.
Matilda, known to family and friends as 'Tilly' died at her home in Chapeltown Street on September 9, 2021.
At Manchester Coroners court, Senior Coroner, Nigel Meadows, described how Matilda, originally from Preston, had a history of depression.
When Matilda failed to log on to work from home on September 9 her colleagues became concerned and went to her city centre flat, the inquest heard.
Here, they discovered Matilda hanged in her living room.
In a statement, read out in court, colleague and friend Aimee Lowrey-Joyce said the alarm was raised when Matilda was not appearing on Microsoft teams or responding to whatsapp messages.
Ms Lowrey-Joyce described how, along with two other colleagues, they made their way to Matilda's apartment, where they discovered her hanged in her front room.
She said she "backed out of the room" before calling emergency services.
In a further statement, read out in court, childhood friend Alexandra Lord said she had met Matilda the night before her death at a bar in the city centre and the pair had ordered a bottle of prosecco to celebrate Matilda's new job, adding that they "never needed an excuse" to do so.
Ms Lord said Matilda was "in a good mood" but that she noted her hands were shaking.
She said that in conversation, she referred to somebody being complex and Matilda replied: "Well, I am complex too."
Ms Lord said: "She told me that I was a good friend.
"Perhaps she said some of these things purposefully."
She added: "Tilly never talked to me about feeling depressed or suicidal.
"She never made me feel aware of any of feelings of this kind and for her to take her own life is completely out of the blue and I am shocked and saddened by her death."
Matilda left notes to her family telling them how much she loved them and saying she was sorry, stating: "I had the best life possible and that is why I am sorry, this is no-one's issue but my own."
In a statement read out by Mr Meadows, Matilda's father, Mr Martin Tomlinson, described how Matilda had suffered depression and bulimia from the age of 14 and did not feel she was in control of herself.
He said that after leaving school she went on a florist course before moving to Manchester, aged 22.
Mr Tomlinson said his daughter had taken antidepressants from the age of 16-years-old and had Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
He said: "A few years ago she felt better and felt she no longer needed medication but came off them abruptly instead of gradually."
Matilda's family then provided help for her at The Priory in Cheshire.
Mr Tomlinson said Matilda drank alcohol daily but was not addicted.
He said: "She did drink alcohol quite a bit, probably every day, but it was just social evening drinking, it did not affect her work, and she was not addicted.
"I tried to encourage her not to drink as much.
"We knew she was not feeling OK but we did not know she would harm herself.
"She did not self harm as far as we are aware and never talked about wanting to end her life, so this comes as an incredible shock to us."
Police investigations in to Matilda's mobile phone showed she had been searching for assistance in suicide methods before her death.
A toxicology report showed she had alcohol, prescription drugs and cocaine in her system at the time of her death, but Mr Meadows said these had not contributed to it.
Mr Meadows said "There was no indication that she had said to anyone that she was thinking of taking her own life" but he concluded that with the notes left behind he was satisfied she had intended to do so.
He gave a conclusion of suicide by hanging.
Mr Meadows extended his sincere condolences to family members, who were not physically present but would be listening to the inquest.
