A CORONER has said there is 'no real way of proving' what caused the death of an elderly woman who was found dead by her carer near Penrith.

Ella Dixon, 93, was found submerged in a bath at her home on Fairybead Lane, Stainton, on June 5, 2024, by her regular carer.

In a statement submitted to Cockermouth Coroner's Court by the carer from Eden Country Care, she visited Mrs Dixon's home in accordance with her rota at 11.25 am on June 5.

She called out to Mrs Dixon, who was not sitting in her usual chair, nor in her bedroom.

When she entered her bedroom, she said she 'turned round and saw her lying in a bath full of water'.

She called her manager as per company protocol, and then called police, who arranged for an ambulance to attend.

Paramedics pronounced Mrs Dixon dead at 12.07pm.

Her carer said she had last seen her the previous evening at around 7pm, when she was 'in good spirits', had made herself tea, and was chatting.

Police statements submitted to the court said that the property was fully secure, and there were no suspicious circumstances nor evidence of any third-party involvement.

They also called the property 'spotlessly clean', and commented that she 'clearly had good care from her carers'.

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Police said there was no evidence of any neglect or ill-treatment.

Mrs Dixon’s stepson, Dennis Dixon, and her daughter Julie, said in statements that they had arranged for carers to visit twice a day to ensure she took her medication, was eating, to look after her personal hygiene.

After suffering a number of falls in her home, breaking her wrist one occasion, she had admitted to family members that she may be in need of closer care.

They had been to view a nearby care home recently, where staff had mentioned that she would be able to have enough assistance there to be able to have a bath, something she had not been able to do 'in years' due to mobility issues.

They said that they thought this this may have put the idea in Mrs Dixon's head to have a bath.

A police statement said that they had made enquiries to 'satisfy themselves' that Mrs Dixon could have got into the bath unaided as she had limited use of her hands.

Carers said that she would often get dressed herself, and could mobilise with the aid of a zimmer frame.

No significant toxicological findings were present and a postmortem report showed findings that were 'consistent with drowning', and the presence of ischaemic heart disease and cardiac amyloidosis.

It said it was 'unclear' whether her heart conditions may have precipitated her falling into the bath, or if she suffered a cardiac episode while in the bath.

Mrs Dixon had no history of mental health issues and had never expressed a desire to harm herself.

Assistant coroner for Cumbria, Robert Cohen, accepted the cause of death offered as drowning, caused by cardiac amyloidosis, concluding it was 'more likely than not' that Mrs Dixon’s death was accidental.