AN inquest has opened into the death of a retired racehorse trainer in Appleby.

Doris Evelyn Slack, 83, was found unresponsive in the bath at her home address on August 27, 2024.

In a brief hearing at Cockermouth Coroner's Court, area coroner for Cumbria Kirsty Gomersal said that a post-mortem examination had been carried out on Mrs Slack, and she had been offered a cause of death of drowning.

Paramedics pronounced Mrs Slack deceased at 6.20pm that day.

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Due to the cause of death offered being unnatural, Ms Gomersal said that an inquest would be required, and set a provisional conclusion date of January 30, 2025.

She said that Mrs Slack was the wife of Mr George Arthur Slack, also a racehorse trainer.

Mrs Slack was born in Penrith.