A 43-YEAR-OLD retail worker died of drug intoxication during lockdown, an inquest heard.

Carol Anne Bryce, of Muncaster Road, Whitehaven, died on March 15, 2021.

The single mother, who had a long history of health problems, was found by her son Ryan Clark in their home.

The pair had ordered a Chinese takeaway the night before she died; her son went to bed at around 8pm and found his mother unresponsive on the sofa the following morning and called emergency services. She was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived. 

In the week leading up to her death, the inquest heard how Ryan had tried to get his mother to seek medical assistance after noticing she wasn't her usual self. 

He had suggested she should go to hospital, but she was 'adamant' she didn't want to.

A week before her death, she also stopped taking medication for epilepsy because she said it was making her drowsy. She had been told that by not taking this, there was a risk of death.

In a statement read out by the coroner on behalf of Carol's friend Rachel Lamb, she said the pair had been like sisters who had spent every Christmas together since they met, sharing a close bond.

Carol - born October 31, 1977 - had become estranged from her family, her mother thought to be living in America and her father in Greenock, Scotland but was described by her friend as a "happy, bubbly and social" person who often spoke Italian after living in the country for a time.

Rachel said - despite Carol's many health problems - she enjoyed spending time with friends, going out for breakfasts and on nights out.

She took pride in her appearance, often getting her hair and nails done.

She was also a proud and supportive mother to Ryan, who she'd lived independently with for 15 years, and was pleased when he got an apprenticeship with a housing company.

Carol had been in a long-term relationship but her son said the pair did not get on more recently- though her partner would see her every day.

She was on multiple medications and had received treatment for many of the medical issues; Carol's ill health worsened before her death.

In March, she had seen her GP where she said she had a low mood, was struggling to sleep and had anxiety. She was prescribed antihistamine and signposted to 111 services.

The pathologist found that the most likely cause of Carol's death was drug intoxication, with a toxicology report showing there was a presence of two drugs found in her system; one of which had not been prescribed.

Coroner Ms Margaret Taylor concluded at Cockermouth Coroner's Court that Carol had died as a direct consequence of drug intoxication.

Ms Taylor expressed her condolences to Carol's son.