Tragedy of ex-nurse

Hayley Coughlan, 31, was covered in blood when her partner found her at the foot of the staircase at the home they shared in Langley Close, Bexhill.

The Hastings inquest heard she was three and a half times over the legal drink drive limit when she died in the early hours of January 11.

Miss Coughlan had been drinking heavily when her partner Nicholas Newnham went to bed at 1am.

A short while later he was awoken by a crash, but did not get up to investigate.

He found Miss Coughlan's body five and a half hours later when he got up to go to work.

Mr Newnham, who had lived with Miss Coughlan for seven years, said: "I got my clothes on to go to work, turned the corner and she was lying across the stairs."

He added: "You could see blood, but it was dried up."

Miss Coughlan's airways were blocked and ambulance crews tried to resuscitate her, but it was too late.

Investigators found three empty wine bottles downstairs.

Romford-born Miss Coughlan had previously received treatment for her drink problem.

She had also suffered severe mental illness and had made several failed suicide attempts.

Coroner Alan Craze said: "She died aged 31 having had a difficult life with a number of problems.

"Her particular problem was she was an alcoholic and I'm satisfied the evidence has shown this death was completely accidental."

Mr Craze recorded a verdict of accidental death.