A devastated family have spoken of their unbearable heartbreak after a father died just hours after his daughter's funeral. Katie Davenport, 23, passed away after an 'altercation' with her work colleagues at a nightclub called Hey Amigos in Southport last year, the MEN reports.
On Wednesday an inquest heard how a helpless door supervisor could only watch as the carer plunged off the venue's fire escape balcony at around 2am on September 4, 2022. The 'beautiful' woman sustained traumatic brain injuries as a result of the incident and died 13 days later in hospital with her boyfriend Niall by her side.
Then her heartbroken father tragically passed away just hours after her funeral service on October 14 after he suffered an epileptic fit. Senior coroner Julie Goulding concluded the 23-year-old who 'struggled with her mental health' died as a result of significant brain injuries with 'insufficient evidence she wanted to take her own life'.
Her sister Lianne Cleg said just 20 minutes before her death, Katie sent her a Snapchat video of herself laughing and dancing in the nightclub and showing no signs of 'distress or upset'. The carer had also been regularly contacting her partner throughout the night via text messages and she appeared to be having a good time on her night out.
Lianne issued a moving statement on behalf of the family and Katie's boyfriend Niall which said: "I can't even begin to describe the pain and heartache we have gone through since losing our beautiful Katie. She was the most beautiful, funniest girl with the most infectious laugh.
"Katie had struggled with her mental health over the years but reached out for help and along with the help and support of her partner Niall had got to a place in her life where she was confident, outgoing and loving life. She had recently passed her driving test, saving up for a mortgage, booked a holiday and got a second job in health care - a job she adored doing.
"She worked extremely hard she was motivated and determined to save as much money as she could to live a happy and comfortable life.
"I have sat for months and months and tried to put together the night's events, this has been painful and difficult and most of all frustrating, the impact this has had on our family has been devastating, not only losing Katie we also lost her dad a few weeks later after he took an epileptic fit the night of her funeral and sadly passed away.
"I have been to the fire escape of Hey Amigos, spoke with the staff that was working that night and also spoke with the people she was out with. I, along with other family members, received a Snapchat from Katie 20 minutes before the accident, she was happy, dancing and laughing on the dance floor of Hey Amigos showing no signs of distress or upset.
"Her partner Niall was in contact with her via messages all night messages that show she was not upset or distressed and, in fact, having a really good night out with her work colleagues, a rare night out as Katie very rarely drank or socialised as said before only recently had the confidence to start going out."
Katie's funeral service was held at West Lancashire Cemetery and Crematorium on October 14 and her dad sadly suffered a fatal epileptic fit just hours after saying goodbye to his daughter.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - sign up to our daily newsletter here.
