A mum-of-four was strangled to death by two dog leads that were being pulled by her pets after she fell during a walk.
Deborah Mary Roberts was out walking her Staffordshire bull terriers, Tyson and Ruby, in Garden Village, Wrexham , on July 8 this year when she fell with the rope leads around her neck.
It’s thought that in a bid to help her up the dogs began “fiercely yanking” on the leads which began to strangle the 47-year-old, of Ffordd Mon, Wrexham.
An inquest held at Ruthin County Hall on Thursday heard that a child out walking with Mrs Roberts ran to find help but by the time two workmen arrived she was unresponsive.
Emergency services were called but despite efforts to save her warehouse worker Mrs Roberts, who had Huntington’s disease, died.
In a statement one of the workmen told how the dogs who had stayed with Mrs Roberts were “crying” after seeing their owner unconscious.
North Wales assistant coroner David Pojur said she may have stumbled as a result of her degenerative condition but said he did not know the reason why the leads had been around her neck.
Describing the circumstances of the case as “tragic” the coroner noted the dogs were not dangerous but in fact “loving and caring animals”.
Ms Roberts’ son Robert told the inquest: “They are beautiful dogs. If you met them now they’d just jump up and lick you. All they were doing is trying to help their mum when she fell.”
Mr Pojur recorded a conclusion of accidental death caused by asphyxiation as a result of strangulation by a lead.
Ms Roberts’ son Callum told how his mum “loved to walk her dogs” and said she will be sadly missed by all her family and friends.
Speaking to North Wales Live he said: “She was a very energetic person with a very contagious smile who loved her friends and family.
“She would do anything for anyone. She will be missed by everyone who knew her.”
