A desperate partner battled to save a dying woman before she tragically passed away, an inquest heard today.
Jasmin Pritchard, 26, was found by her partner Ben Murphy at their home in Hough Green, Widnes, in the early hours of November 23.
She had attempted to take her own life by hanging when Mr Murphy found her - he called 999 and started administering CPR.
Ms Pritchard was rushed to hospital where scans tragically discovered she had suffered a non-survivable brain injury and she was pronounced dead just after midnight on November 25.
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Heath Westerman, assistant coroner for Cheshire, read a statement to the court from Whiston Hospital intensive care doctor Sam Clark who said Jasmin was in a state of cardiac arrest when medics arrived at 2.14am but her heart "spontaneously" started again at 2.49am.
The cause of death was determined to be hypoxic brain injury – meaning a shortage of oxygen supply – due to hanging.
Toxicology found she had consumed just over twice the drink drive alcohol limit, which would be ‘consistent with drunkenness’ and ‘reduced inhibitions’.
Although she had been prescribed medicine in the past, she was not on any at the time of her death.
PC Laura Sandbach, the attending officer, told the inquest there were no signs of third-party involvement or suspicious circumstances where Jasmin was found.
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Jasmin’s phone revealed she had been "happy" on November 21 and that although she had previously been stressed by "‘job stuff, and then a hen party and then a wedding", that was now "over and she now feels happy".
Medical evidence provided in a statement by general practitioner Dr Miles Brindle and Jasmin’s mother Ellie Lee revealed a long history of struggling with thoughts of and attempts to take her own life.
In a tragic reflection of the scale of Jasmin’s battle, Mrs Lee said she had "lost count" of previous incidents.
Her mental health problems had been ongoing for around 10 years.
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Medical records documented these from around 2013 when Jasmin had difficulties with "pressure" at university.
She had been diagnosed as suffering symptoms of post Traumatic Stress Disorder and anxiety.
The inquest heard details of past attempts to take her own life, and that she was more at risk of acting on such an impulse after drinking alcohol.
On the night she died, her boyfriend had gone to bed while she stayed up drinking.
He had stirred about 10-20 minutes after hearing what sounded like it could be house keys being picked up and found Jasmin when he went to see if she was all right.
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Mrs Lee, in her testimony, said her daughter’s death had been unexpected as although Jasmin had in the past contended with "dark thoughts", she had said she was "happy" and "was just tired from work but she was OK" in the time prior to her death.
She said: “We were surprised because we thought she was improving and that she was happy.
“She had a job which she loved.”
Mr Westerman recorded a conclusion that Jasmin took her own life.
Referring to the contents of her phone, he said: “I’m satisfied on the balance of probability that she did the act herself without help or suspicious circumstances and that I’m further satisfied on the balance of probability that Jasmin did that act with an intention to end her own life.
“And therefore under the circumstances my conclusion will be one of suicide.
“There’s evidence of previous attempts to take her own life.”
He expressed his condolences to Jasmin's loved ones.
For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116123.
