Teenage model Gabrielle Joseph killed herself after a boy cancelled their cinema date by text
Teenage model Gabrielle Joseph from UK killed herself under a train after a text from a boy cancelling a date at the cinema, an inquest heard today.
16-year-old Gabrielle Joseph told friends on Facebook: “I am going to kill myself tonight” after being upset when the date fell through.
Gabrielle Joseph, known as Gabby when she modelled for top fashion chain Hollister – was left “distressed” after receiving a message cancelling the date at 8:15 p.m.
The inquest heard Gabby Joseph died just 75 minutes later from multiple injuries after she was hit by the 75 mph Milford Haven to Cardiff train near her home on Easter Monday.
Teenage model Gabrielle Joseph killed herself under a train after a text from a boy cancelling a date at the cinema
Gabrielle Joseph told friends on Facebook that she was upset that the boy had cancelled their trip to the cinema the following night.
The teenager, who was studying for her A-levels, lived with mother Julie Joseph, a hairdresser, and father Terry.
Weeks before Gabrielle Joseph’s death, her portrait had been chosen as an image of the week by Digital Photographer magazine.
Gabby Joseph wrote a three-page message on Facebook to her friends just before she died in April.
Coroner Philip Rogers gave copies of the message to the jury but he did not read it aloud.
Philip Rogers said: “The last part of the message is a clear indication on Gabby’s part that she is going to take her own life.”
Gabrielle Joseph was described as “bubbly” and “outgoing” with a busy life attending college along with two part-time jobs – including with one fashion retailer Hollister at its store in Cardiff.
The teenager dreamed of being a top fashion model – and on her own modelling website, she wrote: “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
But her father Terry Joseph described her as being “groggy and pale” on the day of her death near her home in Briton Ferry, South Wales.
A jury in Swansea returned a verdict of suicide.
A statement from her family after the inquest said they were “devastated by the loss of our precious Gabrielle”.
The statement added: “We have received an overwhelming amount of support from family and friends, to whom we will always be extremely grateful.
“We are trying to move forward positively by attempting to increase awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding youth suicide and the impact it has on those left behind.
“We would like to take this opportunity to urge young people to share their problems by talking to someone they trust.
“No problem is insurmountable and there is always help available.”
Gabrielle Joseph’s mother said in April following the death: “She was the most beautiful girl in the world, both inside and out. Nothing will take away the pain and devastation this has brought to us as a family. We wouldn’t want anyone to go through this.”
On April 12, Gabrielle Joseph had written on her Twitter account: “So much to look forward to this summer.”