A GRIEVING mum jumped from the second floor of a shopping centre to be reunited with her murdered daughter.
Cherie Rangeley tried to take her own life after hearing the harrowing details of how her ex-partner Garry Bolton killed her beloved 10-year-old Paige.
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She had been at an inquest into the schoolgirl’s death when she learned Gary had barricaded himself and Paige inside their home before settling it alight.
Both died in the fire in the early hours of January 2020.
Cherie said she hit an all-time low after the tragedy and turned to alcoholism during her struggle, HullLive reports.
The 45-year-old then felt as though Paige was “calling” her and she jumped from the second storey of St Stephen’s shopping centre in Hull, East Yorkshire.
“I tried to kill myself,” she said. “I ended up in a coma for a short while.
“I smashed my hip and knee as a result and I still have to use a wheelchair most of the time.
“I just wanted to be with Paige. It will sound strange to some people but I felt Paige was calling me.
“I had what seemed like a vision and Paige was there saying ‘come with me’.
“Luckily, I survived. I know I now need to find a way to move on and stop trying to hurt myself.”
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The mum told in August how the inquest had “tipped me over the edge” and she found herself in hospital due to her drinking.
But Cherie said she hasn’t touched a drop of alcohol in about 10 months and she hopes to keep up her sobriety.
The inquest concluded Bolton had deliberately started the fire at the house in Hull, where he and Paige were found a short time later.
The youngster was carried from the property in her pyjamas before paramedics battled to save her, but sadly she died in hospital.
Bolton was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post mortem found both died from smoke inhalation.
Assistant coroner Ian Sprakes returned a narrative conclusion to the inquest, which started in August 2021.
‘I FEEL NUMB’
The hearing heard how Paige had sent her gran a chilling text which read “Daddy is scaring me” in the moments before she died.
On top of the heartache of hearing of the daughter’s final moments, Cherie criticised the inquest’s conclusion.
“For Paige it wasn’t suicide, Garry murdered my little girl,” she said.
“There is no closure really. He didn’t have to take my little girl. If you want to kill yourself then fine but he didn’t have to take Paige.
“I feel numb and didn’t really get the answers I was hoping for. I’m not any nearer where I feel I’m supposed to be.
“I would have preferred a conclusion of suicide for Garry and unlawful killing for Paige rather than a narrative verdict.”
I just wanted to be with Paige. It will sound strange to some people but I felt Paige was calling me.
Cherie Rangeley
The inquest also heard how Paige’s death was the second tragedy to hit the family after her twin brother Ethan passed away at just six months old in 2009.
Cherie has now been left wading through the devastation after “now losing both my bairns”.
“Christmas was hard,” she said. “I started thinking I need to buy Paige a present and then realised she was gone.”
Cherie, who lay Paige’s ashes next to Ethan’s, added: “I find it very hard visiting the grave as Paige really looked after Ethan’s headstone.
“She would clean it every time we went there and would leave toys for Ethan.
“Now she is not there to do it bit, instead, lies next to Ethan.”
You’re Not Alone
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
- CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
- Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
- Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
- Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
- Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
- Movember, www.uk.movember.com
- Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm
- If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
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