A talented Midland dancer died from an accidental overdose of prescription drugs after telling friends she had ‘done something stupid’, an inquest was told.

Joanne Hipkiss, 17, became upset after a row at her Sea Cadets group before later taking the drug propranolol on January 23.

Friends called for an ambulance after the dance student admitted she had “done something stupid”.

An ambulance took her to Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield but she died at 12.30am the following day.

Andrew Haigh, senior coroner for South Staffordshire, recorded a narrative verdict that Joanne died from a self-administered overdose of medication.

But he said that it could not be proven that Joanne had intended to take her own life, adding she may have taken the drugs as a “cry for help”.

Joanne Hipkiss
Joanne Hipkiss

The inquest heard Joanne, from Tamworth, had become upset during a meeting at Tamworth and Lichfield Sea Cadets , where she was a member.

She was staying a friend’s house when she later told a pal’s boyfriend that she had “done something stupid” and that she felt unwell.

An ambulance controller spoke to Joanne on the phone, where she spelled out the drug propranolol.

A post-mortem found the teenager died from an overdose of the medication.

Speaking after the inquest mum Kerry, 37, told Lee Kettle of the Tamworth Herald: “Jo had huge plans with her life.

“Everything she spoke about during the month before her death was positive. She was very giving to other people and had so many friends.

“She has left a massive hole in our lives and it is hard living life without her.”

Joanne’s parents are now planning to make an application to overturn the inquest and have made a complaint to Staffordshire Police over the handling of the case.

Dad Ken, 43, added: “The only comfort we have taken is that Jo didn’t intend to take her own life, but we still have so many unanswered questions.”

Joanne was previously a member of the Spotlight Stage School in Marlborough Road, Castle Bromwich.

The school had posted a tribute to the teenager on its Facebook page after her death, describing her as a “hard-working young lady who only ever showed kindness to others.”