A young mother embarked on a “path of self-destruction” following the death of her baby and died after taking a toxic combination of drugs, an inquest heard.
Lauren Simpson-Eaton, 24, of Barry, died on May 9 last year after falling asleep on a sofa at an address in Cardiff having taken heroin, cocaine, and other substances.
The ambulance was called after those with Ms Simpson-Eaton noticed she had stopped breathing and had “turned purple”. When a paramedic arrived at the property, in Ferry Road, Grangetown, she was declared dead.
An inquest at Pontypridd Coroners' Court on Tuesday heard Ms Simpson-Eaton had attended the home of Philip Hughes in the early hours of the morning having smoked heroin, crack cocaine, and taken a large number of Valium tablets.
In a statement read out to the court Mr Hughes said she fell asleep on the sofa and could be heard snoring. Having woken up between 7am and 8am the witness saw that Ms Simpson-Eaton wasn't breathing and had turned purple.
An ambulance was called and chest compressions were carried out by Mr Hughes and others but when a paramedic arrived he confirmed Ms Simpson-Eaton had died.
The deceased's sister Jamie-Lee Eaton said: "I was aware she had a chaotic lifestyle and I was told she took recreational drugs."
The court was also told that Ms Simpson-Eaton's baby died in July 2019, which left her with depression and suicidal at times.
Friend Michelle Matherin, in a statement to the court, said: "She knew she was on a self-destructive path for the last nine months since she lost her baby."
Following Ms Simpson-Eaton's death a post-mortem examination was carried out and blood and urine samples were taken for a toxicology report to be carried out.
It revealed that a range of drugs were present in her body at the time of her death including cocaine, morphine, buprenorphine, and several others.
Reading out the findings coroner Rachel Knight said: "There were major findings in the toxicological analysis where a number of compounds were detected. Buprenorphine and morphine were consistent with recent if not excessive use and cocaine, which could create an adverse respiratory effect.
"Although no one compound found would be sufficient to account for death a combination of these drugs would be sufficient to cause death by an action on the central nervous system leading to respiratory depression."
The official cause of death was given as combined drug toxicity.
Ms Knight confirmed there had been concerns of foul play in Ms Simpson-Eaton's death from her family but a police investigation had ruled this out.
Concluding the inquest the coroner said: "Lauren Simpson-Eaton was aged 24 when she was found deceased at Ferry Road, Grangetown, Cardiff, on May 9, 2020.
"She had taken a toxic quantity of various illicit drugs in the hours leading up to her death. There is insufficient evidence of an intention to die. My conclusion is one of a drug-related death."
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