A “FUNNY and witty” Southampton artist died after jumping from the Itchen Bridge.

A member of the public rushed to helped Rosy Maguire after seeing her step off the bridge and land beneath it, an inquest heard.

Emergency services arrived and a medic battled to save the 59-year-old by performing CPR, but Ms Maguire died at the scene in Southampton Water Activities Centre.

Cyclist Alan Bishop said: “I saw her laying on her back. There was no-one else around.

“She was barely breathing - I checked her pulse and it was very faint.”

PC Lynsey Tuito, who attended the scene, found a suicide note in Ms Maguire’s pocket.

Her civil partner Theresa Jacobs told Winchester Coroner’s Court that the Solent University photography teacher, once a keen walker, had been suffering from leg pains since September, 2016.

Ms Jacobs said that the pains in Ms Maguire’s legs had got progressively worse to the point where she could no longer sit in a car for long periods.

The court heard that this took a toll on her mental health.

“Before 2016, Rosy was funny and witty. I never saw her brother laugh like when he was with Rosy”, she said.

“She was a very loving person who was loved by her students and work colleagues.”

Ms Maguire had received tests at Southampton General Hospital but doctors could not find the cause of the pain.

Ms Jacobs told the court that she believed that Ms Maguire’s leg pain may have been caused by mental health issues.

Recording a verdict of suicide, senior coroner Grahame Short said: “Rosy felt there was no prospect of being cured, so she decided to take her own life.

“Rosy had a tremendous amount of support from family and friends and the health care professionals that treated her.

“It is particularly sad that she could not see that she had this help and some hope.”