A heartbroken mum grieving the loss of her nine-year-old son unintentionally overdosed on pills prescribed to help her sleep, a coroner has ruled.

Camilla Crofton, from Ashford, died just days after the six-month anniversary of the tragic death of her beloved boy, Felix Stevens, who suffered a fatal asthma attack in November last year.

The night before her death she had messaged a friend to say she “didn’t want to be here anymore”, but an inquest has concluded the beauty therapist did not intend to take her own life on May 23.

The hearing on Monday at Oakwood House in Maidstone was told Ms Crofton had been impacted heavily by Felix’s death.

The football-mad youngster - described as a confident, funny and happy boy - died at the family home in Magazine Road.

Following the tragedy, Ms Crofton had been struggling to sleep and was prescribed medication to treat insomnia.

A police report read out at the inquest revealed the mum-of-two had messaged a friend the night before her death, asking: “Are you up by any chance?”

“She had specifically mentioned she had pills and didn’t want to be here anymore as she was struggling to cope with her son’s death,” it continued.

Her friend read the messages the next day and raised the alarm, with police sent to Ms Crofton’s home.

Emergency services forced their way into the property, where the mum was discovered unresponsive in a bedroom upstairs.

Efforts were made to revive her but she could not be saved and was pronounced dead at 9.30pm.

Police deemed there to have been no third-party involvement.

Toxicology results showed the amount of sedative medication in Ms Crofton’s blood was high, but below what is considered a fatal level.

However, coroner Katrina Hepburn said "on the balance of probabilities" her death was likely caused by toxicity of the prescription drug.

Ms Crofton’s family told the coroner she had reassured them she would not take her own life during conversations about suicide.

Her diary revealed she had beauty appointments booked and social events planned for the days after her death.

Coroner Ms Hepburn asked the family directly if they believed Ms Crofton had died by suicide.

“You knew her best and I don’t want to give the wrong conclusion,” she said.

“Given she had dates in her diary, is it your view she took her life with intent?”

Her mum, Kate Crofton, said: “Because of my conversations with her, although she talked about it and life was very difficult, she was adamant she wouldn’t do that.

“I certainly don’t feel she intended to.”

Her brother, Will Crofton, added: “I can second that. I had conversations with her and, when someone goes through something like that, we had spoken about suicide.

I saw her the evening before and she said she was very sad, but not depressed. She knew the difference...

“As time went on, I was less worried it would ever be the case.

“If there was intent, I would be very surprised based on the conversations I had with her.”

Allan Sharp added: “I saw her the evening before and she said she was very sad, but not depressed. She knew the difference."

Ms Hepburn said Ms Crofton had “understandably struggled to deal with” Felix’s death.

“But I am satisfied after my discussion with family attending today that although there were discussions about suicide, she had reassured family she didn’t intend to take her own life,” she said.

“It may have been a cry for help, and to contact a friend might have been to raise some help.

“We also know it was a sleeping medication, and it might have been to help her sleep as she had been up late the night before.”

Ms Hepburn concluded Ms Crofton, who also worked in a school as a kitchen manager, died from an unintentional overdose of the prescription medication.