Driver uses lorry to block view of tragic mum's dead body after sick rubberneckers stopped to take photos

By Ruth Halkon

© Provided by Mirror A lorry driver was forced to use his van to block the view of ghouls taking pictures of a mother's body after she jumped to her death from a motorway bridge.

Disgusted David Francis described the rubber-necking motorists as 'morons' as they sought to film tragic Lucy Davis, 32.

An inquest heard Lucy had spent the morning dropping her two children off at school, visiting her partner at work and completing her Christmas shopping.

But hours later she plunged to her death into busy traffic on the M27.

The inquest heard she had suffered from post-natal depression in 2004 after the birth of her first child, and suffered a relapse shortly before her death on December 15 last year.

Some drivers stopped to help, but others began to 'rubber-neck' and take photos, Portsmouth Coroners' Court heard.

Lucy, also known as Lucy Page, died when she fell about 30ft from the bridge near junction 11 of the M27 by Fareham, Hampshire, on to traffic on the westbound carriageway.

After climbing the railings on Down End Road Bridge, she jumped on to the trailer of a lorry being driven by Grzegorz Ciupka, 28, and ended up between the inside lane and the middle lane.

David Francis, driving behind Mr Ciupka in a lorry, manoeuvred his vehicle to stop people taking photos of her body as they drove past.

He said: "Morons were still driving past the body, rubber-necking, taking photographs.

"I moved my truck. I positioned my cab so no-one could see the body so they've got nothing to look at while going past."

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He added other motorists continued to try to look after the incident, which happened at around 1.30pm. Medics were unable to save her.

Sergeant Wayne Voller, senior investigating officer, told how Lucy's depression was triggered by family and work pressures in her life.

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He added: "The pressure of looking after the family, assisting her partner Jon with the admin side of business and being the main carer for two relatives seems to bring a relapse in the latter part of 2015."

The inquest heard that her partner Jon Cunningham knew 'something was wrong from the moment she woke up'.

Asked in the morning if she was okay, Lucy told Jon: "No, not really." She then added: "I don't know what to do."

Lucy dropped her children off to school, finished buying their Christmas presents and visited Jon at work before the incident.

He later heard a body had been found on the carriageway on the M27 and reported her missing to police.

He was visited by a family liaison officer who told him the tragic news.

Paying tribute after her death he said she was the 'best person to know'.

He said at the time: "I would like to acknowledge and express our appreciation for all the messages of support we have received at this desperate, desperate time for myself and my young family.

"As all of you who knew her, Lucy really was the best person to know, the best mother to our children, and the best person to have as a friend.

"She was and is my best friend."

Driver Janet Watts, travelling westbound by Fareham on the day, was in the inside lane when she saw Lucy on the bridge just before 1.30pm.

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She said she saw Lucy 'deliberately jump' and did not see anyone else on the bridge with her.

Pathologist Dr Brett Lockyer's report said she died from 'traumatic head injury' consistent with witnesses' accounts.

He found anti-depressant medicine in her blood but at an amount that showed she had stopped taking it.

Recording a narrative conclusion, coroner David Horsley said: "We have a situation here of a lady who is going through a period of depression in her life.

"It seems that she has deliberately launched herself.

"I conclude Lucy Davis has taken her own life whilst suffering from long-term, severe depression and I pass on my sympathies to her family."

A BMW key fob was found at the scene and Lucy's car was found near the bridge. Her family did not attend the inquest.

Mr Ciupka, a Polish national with a UK driving licence at the time, did not give evidence as he was back in Poland.

But the inquest heard that even if he had seen Lucy, it would probably have been too late to take evasive action.

Anyone who feels they need to speak to the Samaritans can call 116 123 or visit them online .