A medical student fell 100ft backwards clutching two suicide notes - one to her mother and one to those who saw her fall.

'Beautiful and intelligent' Lidia Dragescu, 23, from Romford, Essex, fell 100ft in front of shocked tourists, after climbing over safety barriers at the St Paul's Whispering Gallery on Wednesday October 11.

The student had two notes written in her native Romanian in her hands while she fell after saying goodbye to her mother Isabela just an hour-and-a -half before.

The devastated parent was only given the notes when police arrived at the family home in Romford later that day.

Lidia Dragescu, 23, from Romford, Essex, died after falling from the viewing balcony of St Paul's Cathedral in central London

She said: 'The police came to the door and she showed me their badges and they told me it is about your daughter.

'They said your daughter is dead. I was not at all aware that something like this would happen.

'When she left at 9am she told me 'bye mum' and I said 'god bless you' as always.

'She took the 25 bus to St Paul's. I had texted her to ask her what is wrong, I am concerned and that was at around 11am.

'She never usually missed a call or a message from me. I sent her a message and she did not reply.

Ms Dragescu (pictured, with her mother and brothers) was just weeks into a biomedical science degree when she leapt to her death

'She had been researching the San Francisco killer, the Zodiac Killer and she had been reading a lot of Dan Brown.

'She was fascinated by criminal minds and what they think. Lidia was very strong and she did a lot for herself.

'She told me, I am doing this for myself in her note.

'She was holding these two letters and the police gave them to me when they arrived, they said she fell backwards.

'She loved God, when she came into a room all eyes were on her, but she did not have any friends.

'If only someone could tell me why, but I still feel her, she is still with us, she can't leave us.'

FIRST HEART-WRENCHING LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO DEVASTATED MOTHER In her first letter addressed to her mother, tragic Lidia wrote: 'Mum I am really sorry for upsetting you in this way. 'It would be natural to be upset but do not be for me, I am better now, in a better place. 'I am doing this for me, to escape. 'All of the past and the present it makes my head heavy. 'It will be very difficult without me for a time but after this you will be okay. 'Think about me that I am good now. 'I told you how much I love you. 'I am sorry I care but I need to escape and I cannot wait to see what is on the other side. 'I love you all remain well and I will see you when you are old. Take care of you. Thank you for everything.' Advertisement

Ms Dragescu is thought to have jumped over the barriers at the Whispering Gallery (pictured) before falling to her death

Earlier today, her loved ones paid tribute to the 'outstanding student' and 'talented figure skater' and said the world had been a 'bad place' for her to live in.

The circumstances surrounding her death are still unknown.

In a statement, her family said: 'Our daughter and sister was the most beautiful person in the world. Her heart was pure and kind, a soul from another world.

'She was an outstanding student and a talented figure skater. Beautiful, intelligent and kind. She would always help me, not allowing me to do any difficult chores.

'Her love for us was beyond measure, she was selfless and kind. Everything that she had she shared with us, always putting us first. We love her and will always love her.

'For Lidia, the world has been a bad place to live in.'

Her mother Isabella said that while her daughter excelled at academic studies, she found it hard to make friends.

Mrs Dragescu, 44, said: 'She went to St. Paul's at least once a week, we would go together every Sunday.

'When she was alone she would go there by herself and when she wasn't happy, it was her favourite place in the city.

Ms Dragescu was described as an 'outstanding student' and a 'talented figure skater' by her family

Ms Dragescu's mother said that while her daughter excelled in academic studies, she struggled to make friends (pictured, the talented student with her brother, Vlad)

Ms Dragescu (pictured, with one of her brothers) was described as the 'most beautiful person in the world' by her family

'I AM SORRY FOR SHOWING YOU THIS UGLY SIGHT' In a note to those who saw her fall Lidia wrote: 'To all who saw me like this I am sorry, people should not come to see a dead body when coming here. 'I am sorry for showing you this ugly sight, please go and be happy about your lives.' Advertisement

'She loved it there and we often climbed those stairs up to the Whispering Gallery. We last went together in September.

'I do not understand, she was different, she was very kind and she was the definition of good, she wouldn't hurt a fly.

'I remember she wouldn't let me do anything around the house, ''I will do it'', she would say.

'She didn't have friends but she was kind, selfless and did everything for her family.'

Bright and ambitious, Ms Dragescu, a Romanian native, had achieved a 2.1 degree in business at the London campus of Ulster University.

She then used her expertise to set up a recruitment company, KOD services, with her mother.

Ms Dragescu also had a passion for literature and ran her own website, Knowledge Is Our Duty, to encourage people to enjoy reading, poetry, science and the arts.

She posted poems that she had written, under the name Lydia Black, including one titled 'Claudia' which spoke of a 'kind soul above all others'.

She had been weeks into a biomedical degree at the University of East London when she lost her life.

A poem by Ms Dragescu, written under the name of Lydia Black, posted to her website Knowledge Is Our Duty

Ms Dragescu (pictured, with her brother, Vlad) died at the scene of her fall in St Paul's

The height of the Whispering Gallery in St Paul's Cathedral is equivalent to seven London buses

Mrs Dragescu said: 'Her books are all still here on the shelf, Sigmund Freud, Rudolf Steiner, Voltaire.

'Lately she had not been to St Paul's too often because she had been very busy, she was very stressed.

'She loved us very much, she didn't seem unhappy about anything in particular, she was normal and she was very happy and exited to start her career as a doctor.

'After one year at University of East London she was going to move to King's College, they had said she must do at least one year of biology and chemistry.

'She was an ten-out-of-ten, A grade student, she desperately wanted to be a brain surgeon and was mesmerised by the brain.

'We are all so upset and her twin brother has told me he will never celebrate his birthday again.

'I have lost my best friend, I don't have any tears left. 'She was not happy in this world. I just want her back, she had her whole life ahead of her.'

Ms Drasgescu's loved ones said the world had been 'bad place to live in' for her

The Cathedral (pictured) was evacuated after the shocking incident on October 11

Tourists were said to have gasped in horror when they saw Ms Dragescu's leap

The Whispering Gallery has a height equivalent to seven London buses.

Speaking at the time of Ms Dragescu's fall, a spokesman said: 'The woman fell from the Whispering Gallery to the Cathedral floor. The incident is being treated as non-suspicious by police.

'First aid trained staff were immediately at the scene and police and paramedics arrived within minutes.

'Although robust procedures for emergency situations are in place at St Paul's and the response bore that out, it does not lessen the shock we feel as a close community, especially for those of us who witnessed and responded to this incident.

'We hold also in our thoughts those visitors within the Cathedral at the time.

'We think and pray especially at this time for the woman who died, and for all those who were close to her and who loved and cared for her.'