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Wales Online
Wales Online
National
Wales News Service

Nurse who lost three limbs after simple cough turned to sepsis took her own life after being 'stripped of her independence', inquest told

A brave nurse who lost both her legs and an arm after a simple cough turned to sepsis was found hanged by her husband, an inquest was told.

Jayne Carpenter was left with just one limb when she developed sepsis four years ago while suffering with a simple cough.

The 53-year-old vowed to battle on by fundraising to get pioneering limb surgery not available on the NHS.

She had raised over £20,000 of her £265,000 target - but said she was "not having quality of life but enduring it."

An inquest heard her heartbroken husband Rob, 56, got a call from Jayne asking to pick up their dog.

He arrived at the house in Merthyr Tydfil to find her hanged.

Jayne was described as "an amazing person" by Robert at the inquest - and said: "The brightest star in my sky has burnt out."

Jayne with her husband Rob (WALES NEWS SERVICE)
Jayne, who loved to travel, was described by many as inspirational, beautiful and kind (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

Keen traveller Jayne was desperate to lead an active life but independence had been "stripped overnight".

In a statement to the inquest, he said she was "happy, bubbly, sociable person" who had a passion for "travelling around the world" when they first met.

In 2016, she developed sepsis after going to the doctor with a cough.

In hospital, she was diagnosed with pneumonia and sepsis and spent two months in a coma.

After her amputations, Mr Carpenter said his wife "put all her effort into regaining her life" and "she amazed us as a family".

Jayne bravely spoke about her battles and also raised huge amounts for charity (Wales News Service)

He said that, as a sepsis awareness advocate, her experiences were used to "assist the education of medical students".

But, in November 2019, he noticed "a sudden decline" in Jaynes mental health and she began drinking more alcohol, he said.

The inquest heard she twice took an overdose - and the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic stopped her from enjoying the things that were important to her.

On the day she died on December 7, 2020, tests showed she had drunk "a large quantity of alcohol" but police did not find a note stating her intention to take her own life.

Assistant Coroner for South Wales Central, Dr Sarah-Jane Richards, said "undoubtedly, her loss of limbs inflicted a life-changing loss to this previously healthy and active woman".

She added that her death was "in the context of traumatic, life-changing events having challenged her desire to live".

After losing her legs, Jayne was pushed physically and mentally (Jayne Carpenter)
Jayne and her dog (Jayne Carpenter)

In a heartbreaking interview in 2017, Jayne said : "I went from being a fiercely independent woman, with 30 years working in nursing, to becoming totally dependant on other people with every aspect of daily living. I just could not accept what had happened to me.

"I could not wash, feed, walk, make myself a drink, or even sit up on my own.

“It was hard, very hard, to accept the new me.”

A coroner concluded a narrative verdict at the Merthyr inquest that Jayne "died by self ligature in circumstances where her intention could not be discerned".

For confidential support the Samaritans can be contacted for free around the clock 365 days a year on 116 123.

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