A ‘MUCH missed’ mum and former carer from Carlisle was found dead at home by her husband, an inquest has heard.
Susan Turner, 55, was found by her husband, Joseph Turner, lying unresponsive on the floor at their home on Charles Street at around 9am on March 5, 2024.
In a statement submitted to Cockermouth Coroner’s Court by Mrs Turner's daughter, Gemma Turner, she said that she received a call from her father on the morning of March 5 to say that her mother was 'on the floor'.
Ms Turner said that this 'wasn’t unusual' for her mother as she often fell asleep on the floor, but her father wouldn't normally call her when this occurs.
She went to their property, where Mrs Turner was laid face down on the living room floor, and called an ambulance.
Paramedics told them that Mrs Turner had passed away.
Ms Turner said that her mother suffered from osteoperosis in her later years and 'often had seizures, but there was no diagnosis as to why this occurred'.
She also said that her mother left school and became a carer in a care home, before leaving this job to become a carer for her mother, after which Ms Turner said her mother had 'issues with alcohol', which caused her 'damage to the brain'.
Ms Turner's statement said that her mother had broken her hip, her femur twice, and her arm 'all in the last few years', which was caused by her ‘hallucinating and having falls’.
She said she had seen her mother the previous day and ‘seemed fine’, and was ‘talking away’.
The following day, paramedics confirmed Susan Turner’s death at 9.39am.
A mental health nurse said in a statement that Mrs Turner was seen by the psychiatric liaison team in March 2023 while in the Cumberland Infirmary emergency department after attempting an 'impulsive overdose', and that her main problems were 'alcohol dependence and emotional stresses'.
Her last contact with the crisis team was in February 2024 when she declined triage, saying she was now 'feeling fine'.
She had been involved with drug and alcohol services at Recovery Steps Cumbria, but was discharged in October 2023 after several unsuccessful attempts to contact her.
A statement from Rachel Armstrong, a team leader at Recovery Steps, said that she had had discussion in July and August 2023 with Gemma Turner, after Mrs Turner couldn't attend appointments because of being under the influence of alcohol, and because of ill health.
Assistant coroner for Cumbria Robert Cohen summarised part of the statement, saying 'as of that date, Susan was using alcohol daily, experiencing seizures regularly, and her physical health was limited'.
A GP report said that Mrs Turner had a background of alcohol dependence, osteoporosis, and cerebral atrophy.
Mr Cohen said that the only significant toxicological finding was that the 'amount of alcohol in Susan’s blood was enough to result in death on its own'.
A postmortem examination showed nothing of significance, leading to a cause of death being offered of alcohol intoxication.
Mr Cohen accepted this and concluded: "It's clear that life was not easy or perhaps particularly kind to Susan.
"I understand that she must be much missed, and I have nothing but the greatest sympathy with all those who knew and loved her."
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