A two-time British pole-dancing champion described as a “national treasure” hanged herself while suffering from depression during the coronavirus lockdown.
Jessica Leanne Norris, 27, was found unresponsive at a friend’s house in Bolton on June 15, 2020, The Sun reported about an inquest.
“Don’t come in. Ring 999. I’m so sorry,” the tragic woman wrote in a note that she placed on her bedroom door, according to the outlet.
Norris, who won the title of Miss Pole Dance UK in 2011 and 2015, had struggled with mental health issues since she was a teen, the hearing was told.
“Jess led a life of structure, and struggled when lockdown meant that she could not teach or take part in pole-dancing competitions,” said her mom, Alanna Norris.
The young woman, who had been taking antidepressants while working as a fitness instructor, stayed at her friend Brian Compton’s home during the country’s first lockdown.
On the morning of her death, Compton checked in with her via text but got no response while at work, The Sun reported. When he returned, he discovered her body in the bedroom.
A toxicologist found no evidence of drugs or alcohol in her system, according to the report.
The avid pole dancer, who set up her first studio when she was only 15, launched a fundraising drive for mental health charities in 2019.
Kay Penney, founder of Miss Pole Dance UK, described Norris as a “national treasure.”
“Thank you for your contribution and as a true ambassador for the aerial arts, touching so many lives, hearts and souls, lifting many of us with your entertaining, unforgettable and mesmerizing routines,” Penney said, according to The Sun.
“Thank you for your unquestionable dedication and sharing your talent through many classes, master classes, camps, events and competitions,” she added.
“You shone like a beacon of hope on so many stages and your legacy will live on forever in the history of pole and personally as my pole daughter, who constantly showed your gratitude over the years and during your reign as double female singles champion.”
