A CORONER has urged people to make their organ donation wishes known – following the sudden death of a woman.

Tracey Sproat, 48, from Cleator Moor, who was on the organ donor register, went into cardiac arrest while tending to her horses on September 28 last year.

She tragically died at the West Cumberland Hospital later that day despite efforts to save her life.

An inquest into her death held at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court on Thursday heard that Ms Sproat was a “happy” and “hard-working” mother, who ran two successful businesses.

She was a “favourite” with customers at the newsagents and chip shop which she ran. She enjoyed yearly holidays and the most important thing in her life was her daughter.

The inquest heard she lived “a very busy life” and was “on the go 24/7”.

On the morning of her death, Ms Sproat  had gone to look after the family’s ponies and was “turning them out” in the field.

When she didn’t return, her sister went to locate her and found her lying unresponsive in the field. CPR was carried out by her sister until the ambulance service arrived.

She was taken to the West Cumberland Hospital but despite full resuscitation, she died later that day.

The inquest heard that all possible causes of cardiac arrest were considered, including an electric fence, but there was no evidence of burns.

A statement from a specialty doctor in the emergency department at the West Cumberland Hospital, said Ms Sproat was on the organ donor register and would want her tissues to be used.

Her family were then supported through this process.

Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said: “That’s a lesson to us all to let people know what we want to happen to our organs in the event of something so terrible happening.”

A statement from Ms Sproat’s GP said she had been seen by the doctor in June with swelling in her lower legs and had been prescribed water tablets.

A toxicology report revealed there was nothing in Ms Sproat’s system other than a prescribed medication.

A post-mortem report did not find a cause of death but could not rule out sudden arrhythmic death syndrome.

Ms Taylor said the cause of death was unascertained and gave an open conclusion.

Addressing Ms Sproat’s family, the coroner said: “I’m sorry you don’t have an answer. It’s a tragedy – to have lost a child is the most dreadful thing.

“You are clearly a close family. I have no doubt you will be there for each other and particularly for [Ms Sproat’s daughter].”