Open verdict on drowned Kirkby Lonsdale woman (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Open verdict on drowned Kirkby Lonsdale woman

12:01pm Monday 22nd March 2010 in

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A CORONER was unable to say whether a woman took her own life or drowned in swollen floodwaters after going out for a walk.

South and east Cumbrian coroner Ian Smith recorded an open verdict at an inquest into the death of Janet Pritchard, 50, of Main Street, Kirkby Lonsdale, whose body was found two days after her disappearance.

Her body was discovered in the swollen waters of the River Lune during heavy flooding on November 21 2009.

Her sister Helen Teasdale, of Yew Tree Road, Kirkby Lonsdale, said she had seen Mrs Pritchard briefly at 4pm on Thursday, November 19. She reported her missing the day after.

Mrs Teasdale said her sister suffered from bipolar disorder which made her quite withdrawn. However, she said her mood had seemed no different than normal.

Mrs Teasdale said her sister would often walk by the river but had never threatened to harm herself.

“I don’t think she would think that was a dangerous place, even though the river was very swollen,” she said.

Mr Smith said it was not certain how Mrs Pritchard died. She could have easily gone for a walk by the river, which was very swollen, and got into difficulties.

Environment Agency figures showed that the river had been “significantly raised” above normal levels.

He added that he could not bring a verdict of suicide because the evidence was inconclusive.