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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Bronte Howard & Matthew Dresch

Mum-of-two who was 24 weeks pregnant found dead in bed by devastated boyfriend

A 'healthy' pregnant mum-of-two was found dead in her bed by her boyfriend.

Francesca Harris, 38, from Aberbargoed, Wales, died of a brain haemorrhage just weeks after finding out she was expecting her third child.

She had been enjoying a meal with Andrew Burton, her partner of 22 years, and their friends on the evening before her sudden death on March 31 last year.

An inquest in Newport heard how no-one could have predicted her death as she was a picture of health, Wales Online reports.

In his witness statement Mr Burton described Ms Harris as "glowing" and said nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

He told how Ms Harris was an active mum to their twin daughters and was a keen walker and swimmer.

He said he had decided to spend the night of March 30 at his father's house nearby to give Ms Harris "some space". He said she hadn't been sleeping properly and needed to rest.

Mr Burton said that when he arrived home at around 3.25pm the next day Ms Harris didn't answer the door so he climbed through a back window.

He said he discovered Ms Harris unresponsive in bed. He called the emergency services but paramedics confirmed that she had died.

Ms Saunders said a post-mortem examination showed Ms Harris had suffered a brain haemorrhage caused by a ruptured aneurysm. She said Ms Harris could have had the aneurysm for "months or even years" without any symptoms.

Addressing Ms Harris' family, she said: "Frankie would have died quickly and wouldn't have suffered".

Ms Saunders told the hearing a toxicology report showed that she had traces of amphetamine in her blood, but said it was such a small amount it was impossible to tell when Ms Harris had taken the drug or how much. However she said it was her opinion that the drug didn't contribute to Ms Harris' death.

She accepted the medical cause of death as 1A subarachnoid haemorrhage and 1b ruptured aneurysm of the right middle cerebral artery.

Ms Saunders recorded a conclusion of death by natural causes.

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