A "fantastic" young nurse died from a head injury after falling in the bath at her own home.
On February 11, 2021 Katherine Tipping, 28, was found unconscious with a head injury at her home in Jubilee Drive, Lancashire.
Blood on the bath suggested she had fallen and hit her head, Lancs Live reported.
Emergency services rushed to Katherine's home which she shared with her eight-year-old son.
She was taken to Royal Preston Hospital, but despite the efforts of her family and doctors, Katherine died the following day.
Her family said: “Katherine was a fantastic district nurse and a fantastic mum.”
An inquest at Preston Coroner’s Court today (June 2) heard the young mother suffered from chronic back pain and sciatica as well as recurrent anxiety.
Dr Farndale, her GP at Longton Health Centre, said Katherine was suffering from “a number of physical and mental health issues but seemed to be coping well.”
She had been signed off work but during a telephone consultation with Dr Farndale, on January 15 she reported her anxiety had improved and she was planning to return to work.
Consultant radiologist Dr Subedi carried out a CT scan and concluded Katherine had drowned.
However he said it was “unusual” for an adult to drown unless there were compounding factors.
Toxicology reports found Katherine had high levels of codeine in her blood, which she had been prescribed to manage pain.
There was also promithesine, which consultant toxicologist Dr Martin said may have enhanced the sedative effects of codeine.
Dr Subedi gave a cause of death as drowning with codeine toxicity.
Area coroner Richard Turner recorded a narrative conclusion, saying: “Katherine Tipping died on February 12 2021 at Royal Preston Hospital, having been found in the bath on February 11 2021, following a fall after ingesting an excess of prescribed medication.
“There is no evidence of any intention at that time.”
The coroner offered his condolences to Katherine’s family.
