Drowned woman’s struggle with drug addiction revealed

Beth Christina Winfield loved to throw the ball around with her two dogs on the banks of the Waikato River.

The popular recreational space overlooked by some of Hamilton’s priciest real estate provided a sanctuary for the

23-year-old, who struggled with an addiction to prescription drugs born out of an earlier back injury.

But on a cool autumn day in October 2016, something mysteriously went awry on the riverbank off Ann St in the Hamilton suburb of Beerescourt.

A mother and daughter discovered Winfield’s body beneath a branch in the water,

150 metres from where her car was abandoned with the engine running and music blaring.

Her border collie-cross Toby and staffordshire bull terriercross Bindi were found wet and running around the car.

At a coroner’s inquest into the Hamilton woman’s death on Friday, it was determined the

23-year-old woman likely drowned after taking prescription pain medication.

There was no sign of foul play or evidence she had taken her own life.

The inquest heard how Winfield, whose family say struggled with anxiety and a personality disorder, had battled to hold down a job after leaving Sacred Heart Girls’ College at the age of 16.

She spent time as a truck driver and courier driver, but would not stay in employment for long – perhaps a few weeks before moving on, Detective Sergeant Terri Wilson told the inquest before Coroner Gordon Matenga.

Her friendships could be ‘‘on and off’’, Wilson said, and she stayed in hotels, often petfriendly motels.

Police inquiries showed Winfield began using prescription drugs after injuring her back while moving two truck batteries.

She sought medical attention and was prescribed tramadol for pain.

Shortly before her death, she broke up with her partner and her drug use escalated.

As she battled with finances, Winfield’s life began ‘‘spiralling downwards’’, Wilson said.

The inquest heard how Winfield purchased prescribed tramadol and codeine from a woman in the car park of a Hamilton pharmacy on October 19, 2016 .

Winfield had met the woman via Facebook several years earlier. Text messages obtained by a police production order showed that, on the day of her death, Winfield arranged to meet the woman with the intention of purchasing medication.

CCTV footage from the dispensing pharmacy showed Winfield, the woman and a man met in the car park, where Winfield bought the drugs for $60.

Prescription medication under the woman’s name was later found in Winfield’s handbag in her car at the Ann St reserve. The woman was later charged and prosecuted for supplying the drugs.

Winfield’s body was discovered at 4.58pm that day.

Toxicology results showed traces of codeine, tramadol, the antidepressant amitriptyline and small amounts of alcohol in her system.

Coroner Matenga questioned whether the combined effect of those drugs could have ‘‘accentuated each other’’.

Police examined the scene, including tidal and water levels, and spoke with residents and witnesses. However, no-one saw Winfield enter the water that day.

Her car was found parked 25 metres from the river’s edge. The windows were down, the engine was running and music was going. Her handbag, cellphone and other possessions were still inside.

Her mother, Carole Winfield, questioned whether reports a man had been with her in the vehicle were substantiated.

Wilson said there was no information to confirm that.

‘‘The majority of statements were in relation to her just being by herself with the dogs.’’

Winfield was a strong swimmer, her father, Neil Winfield, said, while asking if there was any evidence his daughter had tried to get out of the water.

‘‘The riverbank had some damage which was consistent of someone falling down it or sliding down the bank; unfortunately, there was a lot of other disturbance by the dogs going up and down,’’ Wilson replied.

‘‘I can’t provide any evidence as to her state when she went in or why she didn’t swim.’’

Based on evidence and lack of eye-witness accounts, Wilson could not say exactly how Winfield ended up in the water.

‘‘It is my personal view that she consumed tramadol and codeine through the course of the day.

‘‘I can only assume she’s gone down to the river, whether to retrieve a ball, as there was a ball located in the river, and then has drowned as a result, or as a result of consuming the drugs, she hasn’t been able to swim and subsequently drowned.’’

Coroner Matenga reserved his findings but said it was likely Winfield’s death would be ruled accidental.

After the inquest, Winfield’s family wanted to remember the ‘‘confident and crazy’’ girl.

Although they would never get closure, her parents, and sister Lily Hoebers, wanted to remind others struggling with anxiety or addiction that help is always there.

‘‘There will never be closure, as we won’t know what happened.’’