A SOUTHAMPTON woman who was found dead hours after refusing to go to hospital by ambulance, died after a long history of alcohol abuse.

An inquest heard how Debra Coleman, 45, from Howard Close, in Mansbridge, was treated by paramedics but refused to go to hospital after collapsing and falling unconscious at her home.

Southampton Coroner’s Court heard that the next morning she was found dead at home after drinking almost three times the legal drink drive limit of alcohol.

A post-mortem showed that the damage done to Mrs Coleman’s body from years of drinking, combined with consuming a large amount of alcohol caused problems with her heart.

Coroner Keith Wiseman recorded a verdict of death rising from dependant abuse of alcohol.