Tragic death of alcoholic who drowned in bath

ALCOHOLIC Susan Dutton had a blood-alcohol level fives times the drink-drive limit when she drowned in the bath, an inquest heard.

Miss Dutton, 41, who lived at the home of Peter Talkington, of Chestnut Avenue, High Wycombe, was consuming about two to three bottles of red wine a day in the weeks before she died, the hearing at High Wycombe was told on Tuesday.

She was found on the evening of June 8 by a friend, Cedric Martin Pocock, who was also staying at the house. He had put her in the bath and then left her alone for about ten minutes while Mr Talkington slept after arriving home from work.

Mr Pocock said: 'I went to clean up the garden, but when I went back to check on Susan she was completely immersed in water in a foetal position; she was completely limp.

'I went into the hall, put her on to the floor and put her into the recovery position.'

An ambulance was called but Miss Dutton was already dead.

Mr Pocock said he and Mr Talkington had persuaded Miss Dutton to have a bath because the three of them were planning to go for a meal later that evening.

A post mortem examination revealed bone fractures and other injuries consistent with those suffered by alcoholics persistently falling over under the influence of alcohol, the hearing was told.

Buckinghamshire coroner Richard Hulett recorded an accident verdict.