A popular teenage rugby star messaged her teacher to say 'thank you for everything' and shared family photographs to Whatsapp just hours before she took her life.

Isobelle Phipps, known as Issy, was found dead at her home in the Berkshire village of Cookham on Saturday, April 29. 

Her death led to an outpouring of grief from local rugby teams and national associations, while her mum gifted a pair of earring made in memory of her daughter to Prince Kate during a royal visit to Maidenhead Rugby Club, where Isobelle was a leading player.  

On the first day into the inquest into her death, Reading Coroner's Court heard how 'loveable' and 'lively' 17-year-old student divulged to a trainee doctor that she was planning to kill herself that weekend. 

Isobelle had visited Staunton and Corse Surgery in Gloucestershire, close to her six form at Hartpury College, to renew her anti-depressant medication the day before she took her life. 

Dr Mostafa Hassan told the inquest he had never dealt with such a "complex" consultation before and needed the advice of a senior colleague. 

The trainee doctor had suggested an urgent referral to the NHS's children and adults' mental health services, as well as the charity Teens in Crisis, with both referrals refused by Isobelle. 

Seeking advice from a senior doctor at the surgery, Dr Hassan was told to give the distressed teenager the number for an NHS crisis team for her to self-refer. 

But Dr Hassan told the inquest: "Something in her body language made me think she isn't going to act on (the referral), she isn't going to use it."

Isobelle's family praised the doctor's "valiant" efforts to contact the crisis team himself to flag his concerns. 

A representative for the family speaking at the inquest said: "There's no real criticism of your efforts to contact the crisis team, for which the family are grateful."

The doctor explained that he had not contacted the teenager's family as she referenced previous altercations involving members of her family, and he was concerned contact would "escalate" her mental health crisis. 

But later in the day, Isobelle appeared in tears before a teacher at her residential college, saying that "they have called the crisis team on me," but refusing to give further details. 

The 17-year-old told staff that she was "fine" - and had already been given permission to return home to Berkshire while her family was away on a trip to Wales. 

In a written statement read by assistant coroner Alison McCormick, Isobelle's mum Sarah said her daughter messaged her, saying: "They referred me to crisis for concern for suicide but I have lovely weekend planned. Send me lots of pictures of you guys in Wales."

But later that evening Isobelle sparked alarm when she messaged a teacher saying "you will forever be one of the best people I have meet - thank you for everything," as well as sending 28 pictures of her family to an extended family WhatsApp group with the message "always family".

A family friend was asked to visit the home near Maidenhead shortly before midnight when tragically Isobelle was found unresponsive in a garage. 

A toxicology report found that Isobelle had traces of cocaine in her system, as well more than 10 times the recommended dosage of anti-depressant drug Duloxetine.

The coroner said that a note pad containing a list marked "positives and negatives" was found nearby, with the written list read into the record of the inquest. 

The list referenced her relationship with her family - as well as a reference to sexual assault under the negatives heading. 

In her written statement, Sarah Renton said in the weeks before her daughter's passing she had suggested that she create the list as a way of addressing her mental health, which had been hit by episodes of self-harm, eating disorders, and severe depression since she was 12 years old. 

But the inquest heard that Sarah was not aware of the assault incident referred to in the "negatives" list.  

She said: "I was told told there had been times in parties where people had been drinking and girls couldn't give consent."

Hartpury College staff member Joanna Gleed said Isobelle's mood seemed to "dip" in the week before her death, whereas beforehand she had been "positive" and "enthusiastic" to excel in her A-levels. 

Joanna told the inquest: "She would never be entirely serious - if I messaged her to ask her how she was, she would say, 'I'm fabulous.'" 

In the days after her death, Reading RFC paid tribute to the talented rugby player.

The club wrote: "Issy was rugby-mad and was always a lively member of the squad and will be truly missed."

England Touch also paid tribute, calling her a "much-loved" member of the area's rugby community. 

In a post on social media, the rugby organisation said: "Issy was part of the Girls 18s England team and played at the 2022 Junior Touch Championships, winning gold in a dramatic match.

"Issy was a much-loved member of the Girls 18s squad and many in our community have spoken of not just her passion and love for rugby and touch but her desire to share that passion with her peers and those younger than her."

In June last year, Princess Kate visited Isobelle's old club in Maidenhead after Sarah launched a charity appeal - leading to the member of Royal family and the grieving mother to  share an emotional moment as they hugged on the field.

Sarah then handed Princess Kate a pair of earrings made by a family friend in memory of her daughter.

Speaking at the time, Sarah said: “Issy was wonderful and a real breath of fresh air.

“She had wonderful friends and surrounded herself with the best people. She was nailing life.

“Kate is just a real gentle soul, isn’t she. She just gave me a hug. She said she was devastated.” 

The inquest is set to continue on Thursday. 

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