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A heartbroken girlfriend took her own life just months after her partner died in a river tragedy.

Kate Downey was found dead in a room at Newcastle International Airport’s Premier Inn on Saturday, March 15, the Evening Gazette reports.

The 30-year-old's death came just months after boyfriend John-Paul Conley lost his life in a tragic accident as the pair travelled the world.

An inquest into Miss Downey’s death, held at Newcastle Coroner’s Court, has now ruled she died as a result of suffocation.

The coroner concluded she committed suicide and intended to take her own life

Mr Conley, a docker at Teesside Docks, had been travelling the world with his archaeologist girlfriend, then 29, since July last year.

In November, when the pair had only been in Laos, South-east Asia, for a few days, he was swept away while swimming in a river on the island of Don Khone.

Following the desperate four-day search for the missing 35-year-old from Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, his body was found on one of the many beaches on the river.

Speaking at the time, Miss Downey’s brother Lee, 35, said his sister “was understandably devastated.”

Hundreds of tributes were paid to Miss Downey, a former Nunthorpe School pupil, when news spread of her death.

“Hope you have found your Shangri-La, having the next great adventure with Jonny. RIP our beautiful sister xxx,” said her brother.

Many other tributes were also paid on Facebook, with one person saying: “Such another tragic loss for the families and friends of them both.

"Thoughts and prayers to you all and may they both now rest in peace together.”

Another wrote: “When two people are in love and do so many things together they have a few sad times but so so many happy times.

“If they are parted through tragedy the one left living can feel so much pain inside we all can’t see as tears will hide.

“If they feel that they can’t go on we can’t imagine the pain of there broken heart only that they need to be together once again.”

The inquest was held last Thursday.

For confidential support on suicide matters, call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or CLICK HERE.