A grief-stricken couple lost both their children when they took their own lives within a year of each other.
Quinn Beadle, 17, took her own life yards from her front door in December 2018 after suffering from a long history of depression.
Her death forced her older brother Dyllon, 21, into a spiral of grief, and he took his own life two months short of the first anniversary of Quinn’s death.
He had been unable to cope with the loss of his little sister and found the world ‘too cruel,’ his parents Tracey and David Beadle said.
Quinn Beadle, 17, (pictured, right) was found hanging from a tree yards from her home in December 2018. Her brother Dyllon, 21 (pictured, left) was unable to cope after her suicide and took his own life two months short of the first anniversary of her death
An inquest into the death of Quinn heard she was pronounced dead too soon in a blunder by a paramedic who attended when she hanged herself from a tree.
The error did not contribute to Quinn’s death but her family say the error impeded their grieving process – and 10 months later her brother took his own life.
The hearing in Durham on Monday and Tuesday was told Quinn went out by herself in December 2018 and was found hanging from a tree near the family home in Shildon, County Durham.
Over the months prior to her death she had visited a GP with symptoms of depression and was prescribed medication.
Clinically she was noted to be improving and her medication records show she consistently denied thoughts of self-harm and suicide and she declined referral to mental health services.
Following the discovery of the youngster’s body on the evening of December 9, police officers were first on scene and started performing CPR.
A solo paramedic – referred to only as GW in the inquest – from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) arrived shortly after and told police officers the teenager was dead and that CPR should be stopped.
Assistant coroner for County Durham and Darlington, Crispin Oliver, said: ‘There is conflicting evidence as to whether GW carried out any examination on Quinn himself.
The siblings, pictured here as children, were described by their parents Tracey and David Beadle as ‘special’ and ‘amazing children’
‘The officers continued to give CPR until they were told to stop and GW neither took over CPR nor directed the officers at any stage to continue.
‘At the point where he declared Quinn dead she was not exhibiting any of the conditions unequivocally associated with death that would according to NEAS’s own protocol have entitled him to announce life extinct without commencing any interventions.
‘In pronouncing Quinn dead at a time when police officers were administering CPR, GW was effectively authorising the withdrawal of treatment from her.
‘In doing so he breached NEAS’s own protocol.
‘I find that the account GW gave to others about his assessment of Quinn is unbalanced and unlikely to be accurate.
‘He is unlikely to have detected no femoral pulse which he said he checked for. This would have involved him lowering Quinn’s jeans which he did not observe to do.
‘Quinn’s lower clothing to everyone else at the scene appeared to be undisturbed.
‘As GW’s account of checking for a femoral pulse is unlikely to be accurate, I cannot find it likely that as he also claimed he checked the carotid pulse.’
Dyllon, 21, (pictured above) took his own life 10 months after his little sister Quinn’s death. His parents say the world was ‘too cruel’ for him after her suicide
Mr Oliver recorded a narrative verdict, saying: ‘The paramedic’s actions contravened the mandatory requirements of the NEAS’s protocol for certifying life extinct, in that death should not have been pronounced while CPR was being administered and without an ECG trace of more than 30 minutes duration showing the patient’s heart to be in asystole.
‘The non-compliance with the mandatory protocol did not contribute to the fatal outcome to a quantifiable degree.
‘The evidence at inquest did not establish either that Quinn was aware of the likely rapid onset of unconsciousness arising from self-suspension, or that (even if she was so aware) she intended the consequences of her actions.’
A statement read out earlier in the inquest on behalf of Tracey Beadle said the family were unhappy with NEAS for the delay in making them aware of an internal investigation launched into the incident.
It added: ‘While we accept that nothing would bring Quinn back, knowing that she was treated with dignity and respect would have made that easier.’
Dyllon took his own life in Manchester two months short of the anniversary of Quinn’s death he was found near his apartment in the city.
An inquest into his death is still to be held.
Dr Mathew Beattie, medical director for North East Ambulance Service, said: ‘I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to Quinn’s family for their loss.
‘I am sorry that our response to Quinn and the subsequent review of her death was not handled to the typical standard that the public deserve.
‘We need to make sure we do better for other families who may experience similar tragedy. We have learned lessons and introduced changes as a result.
‘We will be considering the narrative verdict of the coroner in detail to ensure further lessons are learned from this tragic death.’
Mr and Mrs Beadle have set up a retreat for families who have lost their children through suicide, purchasing a caravan at Riverview Leisure Park in Barnard Castle on the River Tees.
Quinn (centre) pictured wearing a prom dress with her parents Tracey (right) and David Beadle (left)
The first bereaved family to use it were welcomed in August.
Tracey, 40, said: ‘Before Quinn died we had booked to go to a holiday cottage in the peak district for Christmas and while we were there an idea began to form.
‘Spending that week away just the three of us gave us the time to just be together without all of the usual worries, we spoke about her and laughed about all of the good times we shared, we cried together and that time just the three of us was so important.
‘We decided that we would like to help other families to have that time together. And so the idea of Quinn’s Retreat was founded.
‘Dyllon was a leading force and proud trustee of Quinn’s Retreat, his strength and humour helped us to push on when we hit obstacles and negative comments.
‘On October 8, 2019 our wonderfully intelligent, enigmatic, kind, loving, beautiful 21 year old son decided that this world was just too cruel for him and took the awful decision to take his own life.
‘Dyllon and Quinn were so special and that is why their story cannot end with their death.’
Tracey said they wanted to honour both of their ‘amazing children’.
She added: ‘They taught us so much and our world is a darker place without them, however in their memory we hope to be able to bring just a little bit of light into the lives of others, this will be Dyllon and Quinn’s story.’
For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.