A “bright and bubbly” 22-year-old took her own life just days after her mother's funeral, an inquest heard this afternoon.

Hannah Dutton was found dead in the bath at the home she had shared with her mum in Horseshoe Crescent, Beaconsfield, on August 3 by a friend who became concerned when he had not heard from her in 24 hours.

Michelle Dutton – Hannah’s mother – sadly passed away in July and Hannah was said to have been “very vulnerable and upset” following her death.

Hannah had been due to go for dinner with friends on the evening of her death but did not arrive, prompting a call to a family member, who arrived and unlocked the door to the house.

After her body was discovered, Thames Valley Police and paramedics attended but Hannah was declared dead at 8.51pm.

An inquest at Bucks Coroner Court on Wednesday found that the market researcher – who graduated from the University of Southampton with a first class degree earlier this year – had taken paracetamol and a prescribed sleeping pill, Zopiclone, along with alcohol.

While the levels of paracetamol in her blood were “very high”, according to a pathologist report, the cause of Hannah’s death was drowning associated with alcohol intoxication.  

Six notes addressed to members of her family and friends were found in the bathroom with her.

Hannah’s aunt, Sue Andrews, who attended the inquest with Hannah’s sister Jessie and her partner, paid tribute to her niece, saying she was “happy” before she passed away.

She said: “She had suffered with anorexia when she was younger, but she was a really bright and bubbly girl. We had no reason to suspect that she would take her own life.

“She had been out that night. She was happy. We had no idea she would do something like this. She was a fantastic niece.”

Jessie added: “She had come a long way but mummy dying was a very difficult time.”

Assistant coroner for Bucks, Anne Davies, concluded that Hannah’s death was as a result of suicide and paid tribute to her family who had suffered a “double tragedy”.

She said: “This really is a terribly sad loss, especially so shortly after your mother’s death. I can’t imagine what she must have been going through, it must be almost overwhelming. All I can offer is my sympathy.

“I won’t go into detail, but I am persuaded by the terms of her notes that this was a deliberate act. I think it was an act of desperation following the death of your mother. It must have caused her a lot of trauma.

“I hope that her notes will give you some comfort and solace. From them, you can see she thought a lot of you and loved you.”