A grieving family has paid tribute to a vibrant and compassionate teenage girl who tragically died after an attempt to end her own life. Sky Louise Lewis, 16, passed away in July 2019, sparking an inquest in Pembrokeshire aimed at uncovering the circumstances leading to her untimely death.
Sky, originally from Wolverhampton, relocated with her mother Michaela Fry to Newport and later to Cardiff during her early childhood. By 2019, Sky was attending Eastern High School in Cardiff and preparing for her GCSE exams, but struggled significantly with her mental health. Difficulties led to Sky moving into a care home in the Haverfordwest area, Pembrokeshire, in hopes of receiving more structured support.
The inquest into her death, which began this week at County Hall in Haverfordwest, heard harrowing details of Sky’s ongoing battle with mental illness. It was revealed that Sky had a history of self-harming and had faced challenges both at home and within the care system. Senior coroner Gareth Lewis was informed that, prior to her placement in the care home, Sky had attended school after drinking alcohol—an incident that underscored the complexity of her needs and the worries her mother faced.
On 28 July 2019, Sky was discovered in critical condition at the care home following an attempt to take her own life. Despite immediate intervention and transfer to hospital, doctors told her mother on 30 July that Sky was “brain dead.” She died the following day, aged just 16. Her mother has described the devastating loss as creating “a space that cannot be filled” and reflected on her daughter’s spirited nature and infectious laughter.
The ongoing inquest is expected to last for up to three weeks and will hear testimonies from various organisations, including local health boards, Cardiff Council, and members of Sky’s family. The proceedings will seek answers from those involved with her care, aiming to better understand how services responded to her needs and whether lessons can be learned.
A senior social worker, Christopher Evans, gave evidence at the hearing, highlighting the difficult environment Sky experienced prior to her move to the care home. He described her as a “high-risk” young person living in a “high-anxiety household.” The inquest was also told that Sky was taking medication for depression and sleeping difficulties and had, at times, been open with her mother about thoughts of ending her life. These disclosures painted a tragic picture of a teenager in deep distress, despite the love and efforts of those around her.
The importance of public reporting on inquests was also underscored during the coverage. Such proceedings, while often painful for families, are considered vital in uncovering facts, dispelling rumours and addressing questions that can, if not openly discussed, leave glaring gaps in public understanding. Media presence at inquests is therefore regarded as critical in ensuring transparency and accountability, and in prompting wider discussion around urgent issues such as mental health and suicide prevention.
Sky’s mother, Michaela Fry, spoke movingly of her daughter’s bright spirit, saying, “She loved doing silly things to make people laugh. She had a big, infectious laugh, the kind that filled the room and made everybody feel better. Life without Sky seems empty and full of ‘I wonders’. I love Sky so much and miss her tremendously.”
Following Sky’s passing, her family made the decision to donate her organs, offering hope to others in the midst of their own personal tragedy—a testament to her enduring legacy of kindness.
The inquest continues, with hopes that its findings may not only provide answers for Sky’s family but also contribute to improved support for vulnerable young people in care battling complex mental health issues.