A mum who was tragically found dead at a caravan park "loved her family more than anything", an inquest heard. Carol Brierley, 61, died two years after her marriage broke down.
The hospital worker moved into the caravan holiday home after the break-up. She was found dead after work colleagues at Burnley General Hospital raised concerns about her absence.
Her family said in a statement that they did not believe the 61-year-old intended to take her own life. The coroner returned a conclusion of misadventure.
The inquest was told that Carol met her future husband Nick in 1981 when they were teenagers and she was working behind the bar of his local pub. They married in 1985.
Blackburn Town Hall (Lancs Live/Jude Tolson)For 30 years, the couple had a "good relationship", but two years ago they began to experience difficulties and Nick later moved out of the family home. On June 15 this year, Carol called Nick several times and he said she had been "struggling to cope" without him but had started to accept that their relationship was over.
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The next morning one of Carol's colleagues called a neighbour to ask them to check on her when she didn't turn up for work, reports LancsLive.
The inquest at Blackburn Town Hall heard that although Carol had struggled to deal with the breakdown of her marriage, she had made plans for the future, including a nail appointment two days later and going on holiday to Greece the week after her death.
Her family said in a statement she "loved her family more than anything". They added: "We don't believe she intended to take her own life [because] from previous experiences with suicide she has seen the impact it has."
In his statement, Nick Brierley said: "Carol was a strong woman... I regularly received calls from Carol, two to three times a week, but I felt speaking to her was making things worse; there was nothing I could say to make her feel better."
Police found nothing suspicious or to indicate Carol had intended to end her life. Tests revealed she had potentially fatal levels of painkillers in her system. She had previously expressed concerns that her medication wasn't sufficiently high.
Area coroner Kate Bisset said: "I am not satisfied that she intended to take her own life. She was distressed but she was also a very strong woman and had taken steps to improve her mood.
"Things, for the first time, were turning a corner. She had an appointment and she was looking forward to going on holiday. She had an awful lot to live for."
If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch.
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