A POPULAR teenager hit by a train had told friends on a social networking site just hours earlier that she intended taking her own life, an inquest has been told.

Aspiring model Gabrielle Joseph died of multiple injuries after she was hit by the train at around 9.30pm on April 25, on the track near her Briton Ferry home. Earlier that evening she had posted on Facebook her intentions of killing herself to her friends.

It followed her having a "distressed" day which included a text from a boy who cancelled a date that had been pre-arranged with her.

The 16-year-old known as Gabby, who was described as "bubbly" and "outgoing" attended Gower College as well as holding down two part time jobs.

Devastated

One of these was at clothing store Outfit in Parc Tawe and another at another fashion retailer — Hollister in Cardiff.

A statement from her family released at the conclusion of the inquest said they were "devastated by the loss of our precious Gabrielle."

It added: "We have received an overwhelming amount of support from family and friends, to whom we will always be extremely grateful."

A jury of seven at the inquest held in Swansea's Guildhall heard that on the night of her death a boy texted Gabby at around 8.15pm, cancelling their date to the cinema for the following day, April 26.

Groggy

Earlier that day her father Terry described her as being "groggy and pale."

In the hours leading up to her death the former Ysgol Gyfun Ystalyfera pupil also wrote a three page message on Facebook, the hearing heard.

Neath Port Talbot coroner Philip Rogers gave copies of the message to the jury but he did not read it aloud.

He said: "The last part of the message is a clear indication on Gabby's part that she is going to take her own life."

Message

The inquest heard that at 5.01pm that evening she also posted a message to a friend which said: "I am going to kill myself tonight."

The jury returned a verdict of suicide.

The family statement added: "We are trying to move forward positively by attempting to increase awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding youth suicide and the impact it has on those left behind.

"We would like to take this opportunity to urge young people to share their problems by talking to someone they trust.

"No problem is insurmountable and there is always help available."

gill.roberts@swwmedia.co.uk