A STUDENT was found dead in her university hall dorm room a month before her boyfriend tragically took his own life, an inquest has heard.
Natasha Braithwaite, 19, was discovered at Lancaster University’s Bowland College on November 20 last year – with a coroner now ruling it a drug-related death.
Moving tributes have poured in for the first-year fine art student calling her “bubbly and bright” as well as “sweet, artistic and talented”.
Her boyfriend Tom Dingle had made plans to see her the night before her death but fell asleep, Natasha’s inquest at Preston Coroners’ Court was told.
Tom tried to call her after waking up but getting no answer, he went over to her halls of residence.
Tom managed to wake some of Natasha’s flatmates and they got into her room where they found her unresponsive on the bed, the court heard.
Paramedics were called but Natasha was tragically pronounced dead at the scene.
But just weeks after Natasha died, Tom, from Appley Bridge, took his own life in woodland near Dalton in West Lancashire, on Christmas Day.
An inquest into his death was opened on January 9 this year and is expected to resume in April.
The hearing into Natasha’s death was told she suffered post-traumatic stress disorder following an incident the previous December during a visit to Abu Dhabi.
Toxicology tests carried out after her death showed she had fatal levels of morphine in her system.
Reading a summary written by a clinical scientist who interpreted the results, Assistant Coroner Sara Sutherland said: “The concentration of total morphine; that is morphine and its metabolites, is within the range encountered in fatalities attributed to the use of morphine. The compound taken in this case is likely to be heroin.”
Assistant coroner Sara Sutherland, returning a verdict of drug-related death, said: “I have no doubt that Natasha was well-liked, extremely well-loved and would have been successful at uni. It is absolutely tragic.”
A family statement, read out by the coroner, described Natasha as “excited” to be going to university.
She had made plans for the future including writing her Christmas list and had recently started seeing Tom with friends describing the couple as “inseparable”.
Before Tom died he provided a statement to police about Natasha.
He revealed the couple had met at a fresher’s night and described her as “a very kind girl who was extroverted”.
After Natasha was found in her room detectives examined the scene of her bedroom.
Detective Constable Kirsten Bell said: “There was a metal spoon taped to her desk which indicated it had been used for heroin.
“There was also a bottle of lemon juice which is often mixed with the powder to turn it into a liquid and that is then heated from underneath the spoon.”
How to get help
EVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide
It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:
After Natasha died, Lancaster University opened an online book of condolence.
One friend wrote: “She was a sweet, artistic, and talented girl and my friends and I will be forever saddened by her loss.”
Another posted: “Tasha is the only person I’ve ever met that has a truly bubbly personality. Funny, compassionate, and so so strong. If I could I’d broadcast to everyone how amazing and talented she was. We made plans that now will never happen.
“She was so accepting and kind. Tasha, I will miss our chats in Costa. I will miss us complaining at the back of the class because everyone was being loud. I will miss your smile and your laugh.
“You’re a beautiful person, and it was truly an honour to have known you.”
One of Natasha’s flatmates added: “I truly don’t think I’ve ever met a soul as beautiful, gentle, and caring as hers.
“She always greeted me with the warmest smile and I will forever cherish the little moments we shared.”
Meanwhile, Tom was described on his as ‘a bright and passionate person’ by a friend who added: “His laugh and smile were contagious, he had a wicked sense of humour and I never saw him fail to bring a smile to people’s faces.
“He was so focused when he put his mind to something, always so determined to succeed.
“But above all else he was kind, even when he didn’t quite know what to do, or he didn’t know the answer, he always led with kindness.’
Another person wrote: “Tom was one of the first friends I made at university, he was a great friend who didn’t fail to make me smile and I’ll never forget the time I spent with him during these past few months.
“Rest in peace, man, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.”
