Former Corrie actress drank a bottle of vodka a day
MUM SUFFERED FROM POST-NATAL DEPRESSION
A FORMER Coronation Street actress who drank a bottle of vodka a day died at home after battling post-natal depression, an inquest heard.
Former Miss Wales Melanie Hughes, 39, suffered depression after the birth of her son Kaden.
An inquest heard she suffered a miscarriage, her grandmother died and her mother was taken ill all within a year and she started drinking a bottle of vodka a day.
After winning the Miss Wales title, she appeared in a series of minor TV roles including Coronation Street and Cold Feet.
Melanie collapsed without warning on her bed on October 8 last year, the hearing in Ruthin, Denbighshire, was told. She was taken to the Countess of Chester Hospital where she died. She left behind three-year-old son Kaden and 16-year-old stepdaughter Taylor.
The inquest heard Melanie had a period of rehab but began drinking again afterwards. There were repeated patterns of heavy drinking followed by periods when she managed to stay sober.
Husband Richard, 50, of Ewloe, Flintshire, north Wales, said he asked for his wife be sectioned in order to stop her drinking but was told “it’s not as simple as that”.
A post-mortem showed she only had a small amount of alcohol in her system at the time.
The only obvious physical condition she was suffering from was fatty liver disease.
Substance misuse worker Kelly Wilson said: “Melanie really was in a terrible state and there were times when even you couldn’t help her.” Coroner Elizabeth Dudley-Jones concluded Melanie died as a ‘direct result of fatty liver disease which was caused as a result of her addiction to alcohol.’
After her death husband Richard said: “Mel was a lovely soul, she was kind and gentle. Mel was so kindhearted and had time for absolutely everyone.
“We are absolutely devastated at the loss of such a wonderful spirit and will never ever forget her.”
The couple had grown up together but did not marry until June 2011.
The family had a holiday together just two months before her death.
Richard added: “We had a holiday of a lifetime in Disney World, Florida, with my family and I am so glad we did as that has so many pictures with so many memories.”