Student was found dead in her university hall dorm room by her boyfriend a month before he took his own life, inquest told
A student was found dead in her university hall dorm room a month before her boyfriend then 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.
First-year fine art student Ms Braithwaite has received tributes from family and friends, 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, Ms Braithwaite’s inquest at Preston Coroners’ Court was told.
Mr Dingle, also 19, a first-year philosophy student at the same university, was found dead in woodland in Dalton, west Lancashire, on Christmas Day that year.
An inquest into his death was opened on January 9 this year and is expected to resume in April.
The hearing into Ms Braithwaite’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.
Natasha Braithwaite, 19, was discovered at Lancaster University’s Bowland College on November 20 last year
Det Con Kirsten Bell, from Lancashire Police, told how detectives examining Ms Braithwaite’s university dorm bedroom after her death, found ‘a metal spoon taped to her desk which indicated it had been used for 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’.
Mr Dingle raised the alert after being unable to get in touch with Ms Braithwaite on the day of her death.
He went to her halls of residence and managed to wake some of her flatmates.
When they went into Ms Braithwaite’s room she was found unresponsive on the bed.
Paramedics were called but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Tom Dingle, also 19, a first-year philosophy student at the same university, was found dead in woodland in Dalton, west Lancashire, on Christmas Day that year
In a statement to police before he too died, Mr Dingle told of how the couple had met at a Fresher’s night and described Ms Braithwaite as ‘a very kind girl who was extroverted’.
Mr Dingle, from Appley Bridge, near Wigan, was last seen shortly after midnight on December 13 last year – prompting missing person appeals.
His body was discovered in woodlands in Dalton, Lancashire, 13 days later.
His distraught family said in a statement at the time that he was ‘an incredibly intelligent and caring young man who had his whole life ahead of him’.
They added: ‘Tom’s death has left a hole in our hearts which will never be filled. Christmas, and life as a whole, will never be the same without our Tom.’
Tributes were written in online books of condolences set up by Lancaster University.
One of Ms Braithwaite’s friends posted: ‘She was a sweet, artistic, and talented girl and my friends and I will be forever saddened by her loss.’
Another wrote: ‘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.’
One of Ms Braithwaite’s flatmates said: ‘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, Mr Dingle 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.’
