A 12-year-old girl from Warrington, described as an 'incredibly talented' rugby player, took her own life after concealing her mental health struggles from family and therapists, an inquest has heard. Laura Louise Spreadbury was found in the bathroom of her home in Great Sankey on June 29, 2025, following a day out with her father, younger sister, and a friend. Despite emergency first aid from her father and subsequent hospital treatment, she was pronounced dead at Warrington Hospital.
Area Coroner for Cheshire, Victoria Davies, recorded a conclusion of suicide, stating that Laura had experienced mental health difficulties over the previous two years but was 'very guarded with her feelings'. She said: 'Laura was very guarded with her feelings and capable of allowing professionals and her family a small insight that she allowed, not her true feelings. I'm satisfied this was a deliberate act ... carried out with the intention of ending her life. This is a truly, truly tragic case.'
Laura, a pupil at St Gregory's RC High School, was a player for Crosfields ARLFC, a Scout leader, and former head girl at her primary school. Her father, John Spreadbury, said: 'She was incredibly talented, very high achieving. The first person to stick up for her friends. Rugby was one of her joys, she played both codes. She really enjoyed it and was incredibly talented. Anybody who saw her knows she had a future in the game at the highest level.' He described a pattern of self-harm and denial, with medical records showing she had told a GP of suicidal thoughts in March 2025.
Laura had been referred to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) and was seeing a cognitive behavioural therapist, Deeksha Girish, who noted Laura's high expectations and self-criticism. Laura told her she would 'show up' for family and friends but struggled to enjoy activities and felt hopeless. Following the inquest, St Gregory's High School and Warrington Council expressed devastation, saying: 'Laura was part of our school for such a short time, but in that time, she proved to be hugely popular, had a lovely and fun sense of humour, possessed outstanding sporting abilities with immense potential and was considered to be a future head pupil.'
