Sally Brampton dead: Journalist, agony aunt and Elle launch editor dies aged 60

Brampton has written candidly about her experience with depression on several occasions

(Grant Triplow/REX/Shutterstock)

The journalist and agony aunt Sally Brampton has died aged 60.

Sussex police confirmed Brampton’s body was pulled from the sea by a member of the public on Tuesday afternoon. An air ambulance arrived on the beach, close to where she lived in east Sussex, but she was declared dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson said: “A woman whose body was found on the beach at Galley Hill, Bexhill on Tuesday afternoon has been identified as Sally Brampton.

“[…] She has been reported in the media as being seen walking into the sea, but there are no witnesses who have come forward to confirm this fact. Anyone with information is ask to mail 101sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101”.

Brampton had a well-documented history of depression. Her 2008 memoir Shoot the Damn Dog recounted her experiences of the illness and attempted suicide.

At 30, Brampton became the editor of the launch of the UK edition of Elle magazine in 1985.

The current editor-in-chief of the magazine, Lorraine Candy, paid tribute to Brampton as a “free-thinking, ground-breaking woman” whose legacy “is a spirited brand that is as relevant today as it was 31-years-ago because there are so many ‘Sallys' out there”.

Brampton also had a stint as the editor of Red magazine and worked as an agony aunt columnist for The Sunday Times Style magazine and the Daily Mail.

The former editor of the Independent on Sunday, Lisa Markwell, who worked with Brampton at Elle said she will be remembered as “the editor who transformed the women’s magazine market and trained a generation of confident, accomplished female journalists. She should also be remembered as the woman whose ferocious honesty about depression saved lives”.

Brampton is survived by her daughter.

The Samaritans confidential helpline is available free 24 hours a day on 116 123 or at www.samaritans.org.