'Loving and selfless' 16-year-old discovered useless in disused resort

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An inquest has opened into the dying of Kianna Patton who died in October, 2019 Why we cowl inquests – and why it is so essential that we do

An inquest has opened into the dying of Kianna Patton who died in October, 2019

16:50, 06 Oct 2025Up to date 16:52, 06 Oct 2025

Kianna Patton died in 2019, aged 16(Picture: Media Wales)

A 16-year-old lady with “a coronary heart of gold” was discovered useless in a disused resort in Pembrokeshire after being reported as a lacking individual the day earlier than, an inquest heard. Kianna Patton, of Haven Drive, Hakin, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, died on October 24, 2019.

The inquest at Pembrokeshire County Corridor heard Kianna was born in Northern Eire and moved to Pembroke Dock in 2012 earlier than later shifting to Milford Haven. An inquest into her dying started on October 6, after first being opened on October 30, 2019, by Gareth Lewis, the senior coroner for Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

At at the moment’s inquest (October 6) it was defined how in 2018 Kianna was taken to hospital after she overdosed on her mum’s tramadol remedy and the way across the similar time she began taking hashish along with her mates. For the most important tales in Wales first, signal as much as our day by day e-newsletter right here

The coroner’s officer advised the inquest that at 20.10 hours on October 23, 2019, Kianna was reported as a lacking individual. At 16.40 the next day she was situated by police on the grounds of the Commodore Resort in Pembroke Dock and was pronounced useless at 16.50.

A subsequent autopsy carried out on the College Hospital of Wales by Dr Stephen Leadbeatter discovered her reason for dying to be strain on her neck by hanging.

The inquest heard a household assertion from her mum, Joanne Patton. She mentioned: “Kianna was the eldest of my three youngsters. She was a loving, care-free, sort, selfless, real one who usually put folks earlier than herself and had a terrific sense of humour. She had a coronary heart of gold.

“She cherished listening to Beyoncé. She by no means acquired the possibility to see her however she would’ve cherished that. She had a deep love for music and Beyoncé’s Halo was one in all her favourites.

“For her sixteenth birthday we went procuring in Cardiff after which went to see Pink on the Principality Stadium. We then stayed in a Premier Inn in a single day.”

Ms Patton defined that she was a preferred lady along with her academics and was near her siblings, usually laying aside plans with mates to spend time along with her household. She mentioned she cherished taking part in the piano, Irish dancing, adorning the Christmas tree and Beyoncé.

The mom fondly recalled: “I used to be notably happy with her when she shared a taxi house from Tenby with a girl who was about to commit suicide. She talked her round and shared a taxi house along with her.

“She was a fantastic lady with gorgeous brown hair all the way down to her waist however, sadly, she couldn’t see that she was lovely and he or she could not perceive why she did not have a boyfriend. She had a really low opinion of herself.

“She taught me that love, life, and connection means way over perfection ever might.”

While giving proof, Ms Patton defined that her daughter had been excelling in school with As and Bs as predicted grades earlier than her grades took a heavy hit round 2018. She defined: “There have been a number of instances I needed to name the police as a result of her telephone was switched off and he or she wasn’t the place she was alleged to be.”

Ms Patton recalled that in the future in 2018, her youthful daughter went as much as the bed room she shared with Kianna and located her “on the ground and never overly responsive”. She defined: “It was out of the peculiar, there was by no means any indicators that she was struggling or that she was determined to do such a factor.”

Round an analogous time, the mum-of-four began smelling hashish on her daughter which she admitted “petrified” her and triggered rigidity between the pair as she did not need her taking medicine, particularly because of her psychological well being difficulties.

Ms Patton advised the court docket that on one event a disagreement over hashish led to Kianna hitting her mum and the police being known as.

The inquest is scheduled to final for six weeks.

Why we cowl inquests – and why it is so essential that we do

As painful as these proceedings are for many who have misplaced a cherished one the teachings that may be discovered from inquests can go a protracted option to saving others’ lives.

The press has a authorized proper to attend inquests and has a accountability to report on them as a part of their obligation to uphold the precept of open justice.

It’s a journalist’s obligation to verify the general public understands the the reason why somebody has died and to verify their deaths will not be stored secret. An inquest report may clear up any rumours or suspicion surrounding an individual’s dying.

However, most significantly of all, an inquest report can draw consideration to circumstances which can cease additional deaths from taking place.

Ought to journalists shrink back from attending inquests then a complete arm of the judicial system just isn’t held to account.

Inquests can usually immediate a wider dialogue on critical points, the latest of those being psychological well being and suicide.

Editors actively ask and encourage reporters to talk to the household and mates of an individual who’s the topic of an inquest. Their contributions assist us create a clearer image of the one that died and likewise gives the chance to pay tribute to their cherished one.

Typically households don’t want to communicate to the press and naturally that call needs to be revered. Nonetheless, as has been seen by many highly effective media campaigns, the enter of an individual’s household and mates could make all of the distinction in serving to to save lots of others.

With out the attendance of the press at inquests questions will stay unanswered and lives can be misplaced.