By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:05, Monday, 18 February 2013

A man has told an inquest how he tried to revive his partner after finding her slumped on a sofa.

Andrew Morris broke down in tears as the details of how 38-year-old Joanne Graham died were outlined.

Illnesses she suffered left the Carlisle woman in pain, for which she was prescribed medication.

But, an inquest heard, she also took drugs for which she was not prescribed – a contributing factor in her death.

Robert Chapman, deputy coroner for north and west Cumbria, heard Miss Graham had suffered physical and mental problems.

Doctors prescribed her two types of medication for them.

But a post mortem found traces of five drugs in her system, only one of which had been prescribed.

Her death was due to breathing problems brought about by a lung disease and because of the effect of these drugs.

Mr Morris, who had been in a relationship with Miss Graham for just over a year before her death, told of events on the evening of her death, on June 21.

He said he had been in pain himself and that Miss Graham had given him some of her medication to help deal with it.

He had gone upstairs and left her lying on the sofa in her living room on Dowbeck Road, in the Wigton Road area.

Thinking she was asleep, he tried to wake her.

After she did not respond he went around the street looking for help and called for an ambulance.

Mr Morris told the inquest how he tried to revive her but she was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived.

The inquest also heard Miss Graham frequently exchanged medications with other people.

She suffered from breathing difficulties and broncho-pnemonia. It is thought her use of non-prescribed medication contributed to this.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Mr Chapman said: “It is devastating.”

First published at 12:02, Monday, 18 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk