A mother and her teenage daughter took their own lives together following the suicide of another sibling, an inquest has heard.

The bodies of Suzan Mahmoud, 42, and 17-year-old Davina Allen were found by sister Laura and a family friend at their five-bedroom home in Shorefield Road, Downton, near Milford-on-Sea, on December 29, 2022.

The Winchester inquest heard that toxicology tests carried out as part of a post-mortem examination found that both mother – who came to the UK from Kirkuk, Iraq, as an asylum seeker about 25 years ago – and daughter died after taking a “cocktail of drugs”.

In a statement read to the court, Laura Allen, a video content editor, said she had an argument with her mother on December 24 about her “life choices” and had gone away to stay in London with her boyfriend.

READ MORE: Woman's suicide may have been avoided by NHS care plan, coroner rules

She said that by December 29 she had become concerned for her mother and sister after being contacted by a family friend and because they did not reply to messages.

Ms Allen said she met the friend at the house who was able to climb through a window before letting her in. She then found her mother and sister dead in the bedroom.

Ms Allen said her mother and sister had been “devastated” at the death of her brother, Harvey, who had died in the previous August.

Suzan Mahmoud and Davina Allen were found in their home in Shorefield RoadSuzan Mahmoud and Davina Allen were found in their home in Shorefield Road (Image: Solent News & Photo Agency)

She said of her mother: “She was really upset about everything that happened to my brother, he committed suicide, he was autistic and had lots of mental health issues."

Ms Allen said it had a "big impact" on her mum, who was "devastated" and said "she couldn't live without him", while her sister was only one year apart from Harvey, and they "did everything together".

Detective Sergeant Simon Yearsley, of Hampshire Constabulary, told the hearing there were no suspicious circumstances and no signs of third party involvement.

READ MORE: Police arrest man driving off Red Funnel ferry

He also said that notes detailing the drugs taken were later found in the house and that there were possible links to online suicide forums.

Coroner Sarah Whitby said a note left by Davina stated that she had made a decision to kill herself and added that “she indicated significant sadness about her brother and significant anger about her life”.

She said that a note from Ms Mahmoud also expressed “deep distress” about the death of her son.

Ms Whitby said: “I think it’s likely they died on Christmas Day because it was Suzan Mahmoud’s birthday, but I have nothing more than that to determine it.”

She recorded verdicts of suicide for both mother and daughter.

If you need support, contact the Samaritans on 116 123, or jo@samaritans.org.