AN inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday into the death of a teenager found hanged in a North-East hospital.
Samantha Lorraine McCartney, 16, had been taken to the accident and emergency department of Darlington Memorial Hospital in the early hours of Monday, May 10.
She was taken to the hospital in a distressed state by a concerned taxi driver, who picked her up in the town's Bondgate.
She was later found hanged in a room by a member of staff.
She died two days later in the intensive therapy unit after hospital doctors decided to switch off her life support machine.
Her mother's partner, George Craggs, of Forest Moor Road, Darlington, attended the inquest at Darlington police station.
Mandy Welsh, a social worker with Stockton Borough Council, was also present.
She confirmed to Deputy South Durham Coroner Kenneth Howe that Samantha was subject to a care order, with joint parental responsibility between Stockton Social Services and her mother, Sharon Harding.
Her funeral will take place on Tuesday at St John's Church, in Neasham Road, Darlington, at 2pm.
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