Tragedy of mum, 21, who took her own life as young son slept in living room

A much-loved mum was found dead by her partner at her home as their young son slept on a settee in the living room, an inquest was told. A coroner has recorded a conclusion of suicide after an inquest into the death in April of Zoe Winstanley, 21.

Her partner, Bradley Marshall, went to her home in Scholes, Wigan, after she called him and asked him to collect their son, the inquest heard. Mr Marshall was praised by a coroner for doing 'everything you could in the crucial few seconds after discovering where she was'.

The inquest heard he carried her to the front garden and performed CPR. Neighbours on Kirkless Street also rushed out to help. But despite the best efforts of paramedics who battled to save her life, Zoe was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

READ MORE: Dancing boy, 2, killed by falling marble fireplace and TV that wasn't fixed to wall, inquest told

The court heard of 'suicidal ideation' on Zoe's part going back to 2019 and that she had post-natal depression after the birth of her son. Her relationship with Mr Marshall was said to have had its 'ups and downs'. During a night out on the Saturday before her death on Tuesday, April 16, the inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court heard Zoe indicated to friends an intention to take her own life.

Giving evidence, one friend said Zoe told her in a bar in Wigan: "I am going to do it, it does not matter what you say or do, but just not yet, not any time soon." Zoe, the court heard, had a 'strong support network' and the friends she was with checked up on her and messaged her over the following days.

The inquest heard Zoe went into care and lived with a foster family from 2016. Her mum died a year later, the court heard, seven years after the death of her dad.

Giving