Wednesday 19 December 2007

'Suicide attempt woman not helped by health services'

A former golf professional who cannot stop jumping into the sea in apparent suicide attempts is not being helped by health services in Sussex as they do not class her case as urgent, a court heard.

Amy Beth Dalla Mura, 46, has cost the emergency services about £1 million in rescuing her more than 50 times.

Dalla Mura, who is living with relatives in Hove, appeared before Judge Keith Thomas at Swansea Crown Court for sentencing for breaching an antisocial behaviour order, imposed by Aberystwyth magistrates in Wales, banning her from going anywhere near the sea.

She breached the order five times, the latest on June 25 this year when a helicopter, two lifeboats and two shore search teams totalling 26 men were called out.

She was found semi-conscious on rocks at the water's edge.

Dalla Mura was bailed to live in Hove while she was examined by a psychiatrist.

Judge Thomas concluded she suffered from a serious emotional disorder but, the court heard, the medical services in Sussex refused to class her case as urgent.

Judge Thomas said: "There is nothing the legal process can do to assist her because it requires the co-operation of the local health services and that has not been forthcoming."

He said all he could do was make Dalla Mura the subject of a two-year supervision order in the hope probation services could influence the situation.

Dalla Mura, who appeared in court in a wheelchair, had described the suicide attempts off the west Wales coast as cries for help for her physical condition.

In 2001 she developed problems with her hips. Surgery, she said, made her condition worse and she is in constant pain.

Since then Dalla Mura has waded out to sea at Aberystwyth and leapt off piers, jetties, rocks and cliffs.

Catherine Collins, prosecuting, said the main concern of the emergency services was while they were busy rescuing Dalla Mura other stretches of the coast were left uncovered.

A spokeswoman for the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which provides mental health services across the county, said: "We have offered Ms Dalla Mura an appointment to use our services.

"However we have no legal powers to force her to receive treatment.

"We will continue to offer assistance to Ms Dalla Mura and hope she will make use of the services made available to her."

Following her last court appearance in August Ms Dalla Mura told The Argus the number of rescues had been exaggerated by the authorities and said it was a very complicated and bitter story.

She said she had lived a very active and special life which had over the last few years been taken away from her.

As a golfer Dalla Mura taught in the US but was forced to give up because of a back injury.

She damaged her spine as a child when thrown by a horse but the injury went undetected for many years.

She has undergone several unsuccessful operations.

siobhan.ryan@theargus.co.uk

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