Woman dubbed 'love of my life' died after taking non-prescription drugs

Angela Rodgers, 39, who had previously struggled with drug related issues, died at her home in Barrow on December 11, 2019.

The inquest heard how police and paramedics were called to an address on December 11, where she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A coroner said she 'probably collapsed two days earlier' and ruled out foul play and any intention of self-harm.

A statement from her partner Kai Johnson was read out during the inquest.

He explained she had been taking non prescription drugs because the medication for her blood cancer made her feel unwell.

Describing Miss Rodgers as the love of his life, he said: “We moved to Barrow in 2018 and she was doing well.

“Shortly after moving Angela got a diagnosis of blood cancer.

“There were lots of service available to her such as Women’s Community Matters and Mind but she didn’t engage with any.

“She resorted to non prescription drugs and she didn’t take her cancer medication properly as it made her feel unwell.

“She was using an assortment of drugs, she became lost and it was dragging her down to a place she could not climb out of.

“This may all sound negative but I wanted to be honest. She was the love of my life and all I ever wanted was to do right by Angela.”

A post mortem found evidence of vomit deep within the lung tissue which led doctors to believe the cause of death was aspiration pneumonitis.

There was also presence of both prescription and non prescription drugs in her system, most notably methadone.

Coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw concluded: “She probably collapsed on the evening of Monday December 9, and it was possible that she had been deceased for more than 36 hours.

“There is no evidence of an intention of self harm or foul play but there was evidence of long-term drug use.

“It is unlikely that she would have died if she had not had this history of drug use.

"So the conclusion I would give is that this is a drug related death.”