A cosmetic doctor drowned in the bath after consuming drugs and wine while distressed over her boyfriend’s one-night stand, an inquest has heard.
Dr Rielle Longhurst, 30, had argued with her partner, Charlie Procter, on 21 August last year after learning he had cheated on her during a work trip to France.
Inner West London Coroner’s Court heard that Mr Procter visited her Notting Hill flat after she discovered the infidelity, as reported by MailOnline.
The court was told that Dr Longhurst made remarks about wanting to take her own life, but Mr Procter did not believe she was serious. He left at around 10pm to stay with his parents.
The following morning, he became concerned after noticing she had not been active on social media — something her family and friends described as unusual. He went to her flat, found himself locked out, and, upon looking through the bathroom window, saw Dr Longhurst submerged and unresponsive in the bath.
He climbed in through the window, pulled her from the water and attempted CPR. Paramedics were called, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detective Constable Jorge Sobral of the Met Police told the court that two wine glasses were found in the flat, along with empty medication packets hidden in a plant pot and a half-empty container in the bathroom.
Letters addressed to her parents, Graham and Phyllis, and her elder sister Georga were found, and her phone had been placed near the bath taps.
A toxicology report revealed that Dr Longhurst had alcohol in her system above the legal drink-drive limit, and a high — though not fatal — level of opioids.
The inquest concluded she died from misadventure by drowning, with alcohol listed as a contributing factor.
Her father, Graham Longhurst, told the court she had met Mr Procter in 2021, describing him as “the love of her life, everything she’s ever wanted”. He added: “Charlie strayed and it really upset her.”
He described his daughter as “very empathetic” and “an all or nothing sort of girl”.
The court heard Dr Longhurst had texted Mr Procter on 20 August saying she “wanted to die because he had cheated”. The next day, she sent another message saying goodbye and wishing him well.
Close friend Tory Kaye gave evidence that she last saw Dr Longhurst at 3.20pm on 21 August. She said the doctor was visibly upset and trying to find out more about the affair, including texting the woman involved.
Assistant coroner Jean Harkin recorded a conclusion of misadventure. She said: “We have heard that the break-up of a relationship with her partner troubled her and she made comments about not wanting to live, but I do not find that unusual in the break-up of a relationship.”
She added: “In addition we know that the toxicology evidence showed that Rielle had taken an opioid at a high level, but that doesn’t refer to a fatal level. She had also taken alcohol and the combination would have depressant effects on the nervous system. It would make her very sleepy and very drowsy.
“She was in the bath and had a candle lit and her mobile phone was in a position that she could see. The family told me that despite notes that were left she wouldn’t have wanted to die.
“Rielle died as a result of drowning and that lends weight to being sleepy and immersing herself in water. It’s likely on the evidence that Rielle was expecting Charlie to arrive and maybe wanted to hurt him as he’d hurt her.
“We have a note of intent, but what we do not know is whether it was written at that time so we can’t be certain that the note was written just before she died.
“It’s likely on the balance of evidence that Charlie would have found her notes and realised his impact. Charlie’s evidence was he didn’t believe she would have taken her life.
“The family and Charlie both knew her well and they do not believe that she intended to die.”
The inquest heard that Dr Longhurst was one of five children, had been an impressive grammar school pupil, and went on to study medicine at the University of Liverpool, qualifying in 2017. She began work as an aesthetics doctor in London in June 2023.
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