A coroner has said "we will sadly never know" how a beloved friend and mum came to fall to her death from the balcony of her Maidstone flat.

Julie Marsanic was seen dangling from the balcony railings of her second-floor Wallis Place apartment in Hart Street in August last year.

A witness from a neighbouring flat said that the 59-year-old plummet roughly 15 metres to the path below.

An off duty police officer canoeing past the riverside property saw the former counsellor drop and rushed up the bank and scaled a fence to perform CPR.

Despite his efforts and that of other police officers who attended, Ms Marsanic was tragically pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics arrived.

Yesterday coroner Bina Patel heard evidence at an inquest, held at Archbishops Palace in Mill Street, Maidstone, in an attempt to determine how the mother had ended up falling.

The court heard that Ms Marsanic, who lived alone with her two cats Mo-Jo and Tigerlily had been suffering from anxiety and depression for more than a year and had a history of heavy alcohol use.

At the time of her death she was found to be more than twice the drink-drive limit.

She also had an ongoing complaint with Kent Police as part of problems she was having with a neighbour's son - an issue which was said to be causing her a great deal of frustration.

At one point officers became so concerned with her deteriorating psychological state that they contacted mental health services.

Despite her low mood, family members said they could not believe she killed herself as she was rebuilding her relationship with her son and had plans to go on holiday with a friend.

Investigators also found no note or evidence that she was planning a suicide when they searched her flat and analysed her computer.

Due to a lack of strong evidence to suggest Ms Marsanic intentionally let go or accidentally fell, Ms Patel was forced to make an 'open conclusion.'

"The evidence does not help me establish if she slipped or let go and if she intended to end her own life," she said.

"Sadly we will never know how Ms Marsanic came by her death."

Addressing those at the hearing she said: "I extend my personal condolences to all of you and to her extended family and friends."

Speaking afterwards, close friend of five years Ronald Greenfield said: "It's just terrible, the whole lot. She was lovely, she would do anything for you and, of course, she loved her cats."

Another, who did not want to be named, said "She was a really caring, kind, and generous person. She always wanted to help people in difficult situations.

"She had trained as a psychiatric nurse, she was always in caring professions and looked out for other people."

During the course of a 30-year career in counselling she is said to have worked with high profile clients including Michael Jackson.