Woman’s overdose death was accidental

TESTS showed a woman found collapsed at her home had taken a large number of antidepressant tablets, a coroner said.

A pathologist could find no obvious reason why Samantha Owen had died but the toxicology tests found high levels of the drug in her blood.

At a hearing at Caernarfon, senior coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said other prescription drugs had been found in the 47-year-old’s body but these were at therapeutic levels or so low as to be negligible.

He said Ms Owen was found collapsed behind the front door of her home in Rhoscolyn near Trearddur Bay on November 16 last year.

Witness statements received by the coroner said the day had been normal with Ms Owen making plans for Christmas.

“The pathologist could only comment that the drug was at overdose level and that is the only explanation for the death,” he said.

The coroner said based upon the cause of death he had to consider if this was a case of drug abuse, suicide or if there was some other explanation.

Summing up the evidence Mr Jones said: “First of all this is not a drug that is used by drug addicts and similar people because it does not have the same effect as opiates. Therefore that should be disregarded.”

He said suicide was a possibility but “the circumstances were very relevant”.

“There is no note and the action during the morning of her death is absolutely normal,” the coroner said.

“She was collapsed by the front door. To me this is not a picture of a person who had intended to kill herself. My finding here is that I have insufficient evidence of suicide.

“I can only assume that Ms Owen had taken a large number of tablets because they affected her depression.

“Whatever her intention it was not the intention to die so therefore I am of the opinion that death in this case was an accident.”

The coroner returned a formal verdict of accidental death.