A TEENAGER who died after jumping from a third floor window had shown no signs of harming herself prior to her death, an inquest heard.

Melissa Anthony leapt from her bedroom window in Eisenhower Drive, Hastings, during the early hours on Monday, November 2, last year.

Her mother Mercy had heard a noise in the night and gone to check on Melissa, but found her at her bedroom window when she saw her jump.

An ambulance was called at 3.10am and the 17-year-old was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital and transferred to intensive care, having suffered serious head injuries.

But her condition deteriorated and following a discussion with her family, a decision was taken to withdraw life sustaining treatment. Melissa died in hospital at 5.52am on November 11.

At an inquest into her death held at Brighton Coroner's Court, the court heard Melissa had no history of self harm.

She had received 15 counselling sessions between April 2018 and January 2019, which had helped her with eating and sleeping issues, but she had not expressed suicidal feelings.

The teenager, who was a pupil at St Richard's Catholic College in Bexhill, had achieved good GCSE results last year and was described as a talented artist by her teachers.

Melissa was reported to have struggled with the workload in the past but had been supported to manage stress and was not seen as being at risk by the school, the court heard.

In a statement read out at the inquest, Doreen Cronin, the school's principal said: "Melissa was a very shy pupil who liked to keep herself to herself.

"She did mix with a lovely group of girls who liked her very much and saw beyond her quietness.

"Her GCSE results were well-deserved and reflected her progress. She seemed happy in herself.

"We were looking forward to hearing of her success in the sixth form where we expected her to thrive, given her abilities."

The court heard Melissa had been "very conscious" of having acne and had received medication for it earlier in the year.

Detective Sergeant Scott Gosling, who was responsible for investigating her death, said there was evidence she had been listening to "sad songs" on the family's computer the day before she died.

A knife was also found underneath Melissa after she fell, but this had not contributed to her injuries, the court heard.

DS Gosling said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

Assistant coroner Catharine Palmer said: "Melissa was a very quiet, conscientious young woman and her prospects were good.

"There were times in her life when she was stressed about work and steps were taken to help her.

"She had a little bit of acne which was perhaps causing her a bit of embarrassment.

"She had never attempted to harm herself."

Melissa's cause of death was given as head injuries caused by a fall from height. The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion and said she could not be certain Melissa intended to take her own life.

She said: "It was found she was listening to sad music in the hours before her death but there was absolutely nothing untoward otherwise.

"She was seen jumping through her window. It could be that she just panicked.

"Her intentions remain unclear."

Melissa's family described her as "beautiful, kind, thoughtful and caring".

In a statement read at the inquest, they said: "Melissa never put herself above others.

"She gave food to food banks and wanted to help others, and even donated her hair to charity.

"We are lucky to have memories of our wonderful Melissa."