Chesterfield mum took her own life after expressing voodoo concerns

Tracy Jackson, of Bower Farm Road, Old Whittington, died when she was hit by a train in the Chesterfield area on the evening of May 15 last year.

On Monday, Chesterfield coroners’ court was told the 43-year-old voiced fears about voodoo and people ‘hunting her down’ prior to her tragic death.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, coroner Kathryn Hayes said: “She had placed herself deliberately on the line and death was unavoidable.

“She had prior mental health and drug misuse difficulties but at the time of her death she was not under the influence of any substances and there is insufficient evidence to say that she had a relevant mental health condition.”

A Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust report concluded that services which were provided to Ms Jackson were ‘delivered to an acceptable standard overall’ – although her family was not involved in the assessment and decision-making process.

The trust insisted that lessons had been learned since her death.

In a statement read out during the inquest, the train driver said he had ‘no chance of stopping’ when Ms Jackson placed herself on the railway track.

He added: “This is my third incident like this and I’m currently off work receiving trauma counselling.”

After Ms Jackson died, her sister Sheila Jackson told the Derbyshire Times: “Tracy would do anything for anybody – she was always there if you needed someone.

“She was only four-feet tall but she had a big personality.”

Sheila remembered her sister for her love of walking and constantly being on the phone.

“She absolutely loved to walk,” said Sheila.

“She would never catch the bus anywhere and she was never off the phone – she had a lot of friends.”

Whoever you are, however you feel, whatever life has done to you, please remember that you are not alone and help is at hand. You can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or email them [email protected]. The Samaritans are there all day, every day.