A woman who suffered from severe mental health problems was found face down in her sister’s bath an inquest heard today (Wed).
Beverley Parkinson, 44, of Fenton Street, Mirfield, had been staying at her sister Wendy’s home in Catherine Street, Brackenhall, for a few weeks following a break with her husband, Paul Hudson.
Huddersfield Coroner’s Court heard the deceased, who had a long history of self-harm, schizophrenia and depression, had been in high spirits on May 17 the day before she died.
Her sister told senior coroner Martin Fleming that on the 17th Beverley’s behaviour had not been erratic. She told him: “She didn’t give any clue that there was any cause for concern.”
During the day she had enjoyed sunning herself in the garden and had drunk just one can of beer.
Later that evening she took a bath and after a while Wendy and her boyfriend Damien Brown became concerned for her safety. Mr Fleming asked her: “Thirty minutes went by, did you have cause for concern?”
Wendy replied: “Damien wanted to go to the toilet so I brayed on the door, shouting: ‘Beverley, Beverley, are you OK? I got no reply. I started to panic. She had locked the door. Damien tried to force the door but couldn’t do it. We called the police and ambulance services.”
Mr Brown was asked by Mr Fleming how he had found her.
He said: “She was up and down. I could tell she was depressed. She said she didn’t want to live, no more, I thought she meant it. She was worried about being put in a nuthouse by the mental health services.”
Dr Lisa Barker who conducted a post mortem said: “I think death would have been very quick. It may have been quicker than she expected.”
Mr Fleming recorded a narrative conclusion. He said: “On the 18th of May, 2014, Beverley Parkinson was found to have drowned in the bath at Catherine Road, Brackenhall. She was lying face down in the water.”
He noted that there was no third party involvement before adding: “It’s more likely that she put herself in this fatal position. It’s unclear whether she intended her fate.”
