A DEPRESSED mum drowned herself in the sea.

Irina Barriga was found floating face down in the water opposite Brunswick Square, Hove.

A family spotted her and raised the alarm, before starting desperate CPR to revive her.

Paramedics, police, and a lifeguard attended, and battled to both get her breathing again and warm up her body temperature, which had plummeted.

But hours later the mother-of-two was declared dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton.

She was 43-years-old.

An inquest into her death was held by Coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley, and recorded a conclusion of suicide.

The coroner was told that the family who found her, the emergency services, and doctors at the Accident and Emergency Department and Itensive Care Unit had done everything possible to save her.

Ms Barriga, originally from Portugal, is survived by two sons, her brother, and her mother.

A Crowdfunding campaign by friends raised more than £5,000 to help Ms Barriga’s family with funeral costs.

Mystery remains as to her motive, as no note or message was found to reveal her intentions.

But the coroner said the evidence on the balance of probability was that Ms Barriga had chosen to take her own life.

She had left her home where she was living with a man in Whyteleafe, Surrey, the night before and booked into a hotel nearby.

CCTV showed her leaving the hotel early the next morning.

Ms Barriga was discovered shortly after 11am on August 5.

The coroner praised the family who found her, as one man had waded into the sea to retrieve her.

She said: “It is one example of the kindness of strangers.

“It gives a little bit of comfort that somebody can be so caring about someone they have never met.”

A post mortem examination by pathologist Dr Catherine Guy showed she had not taken alcohol or drugs.

The tests also showed that Ms Barriga had not taken medication for her depression and anxiety.

The coroner said that sometimes those suffering with low mood can hide their feelings from friends and family.

Ms Barriga had appeared in good spirits when she was with her family in Portugal weeks earlier, friends said.

Friends who knew her said: “Irina you was a beautiful person inside and out, I am so sorry you felt like you couldn’t go on any longer. Life can be so cruel.”

A shocked friend said they were “speechless” and said Ms Barriga would be a “huge loss” as she was someone who “always had a lot to give to those around them”.

Meanwhile another friend said: “My dear girl, you will be forever in my heart. Rest in peace and may God light your way.”