By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:34, Saturday, 18 August 2012

A Whitehaven woman who was found dead in her home died of natural causes, an inquest has ruled.

Rosemarie Earl, 39, was found dead on the sofa in her home at Wasdale Close, Mirehouse, on November 21 last year.

A post-mortem revealed the cause of death to be heart disease. Police officers confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances.

The inquest, held yesterday , heard that David McLeod, who had been in an on-off relationship with Miss Earl for a number of years, had grown concerned about her welfare when she failed to answer his telephone calls on November 21.

He visited her home around noon and, after failing to get a response, let himself into the house where he, along with Miss Earl’s community nurse, Karen Loizou, who had arrived for an appointment, made the discovery.

Miss Earl had a long history of mental illness, the inquest heard, and was under the care of the community nurse for her condition.

Mr McLeod told the inquest that Miss Earl had a poor diet and ate a lot of fatty food. In reaching a verdict of natural causes, north and west Cumbria deputy coroner, Simon Ward, said that Miss Earl’s diet may have contributed to her death, but added: “There may also have been some genetic disposition.”

Mr McLeod paid tribute to his friend, saying: “I miss her and I am lost without her.”

First published at 10:49, Saturday, 18 August 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk