A WOMAN killed herself a few minutes after telling her mum she loved her and watching her daughter’s birthday video, an inquest heard.

Mother-of-two Emma Hawley was found dead, at her Blackburn home, in the early hours of November 29.

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East Lancashire coroner Michael Singleton found she had died of asphyxia, with contributing factors of heroin and crack cocaine use.

Emma, 29, had been at a friend’s house before returning to her room, in supported living accommodation in Emerald Close, informing staff that she was going to watch a DVD, the court heard.

Shortly before 3am, Emma — mum to Chloe, nine, and Emily, six — rang her mother Janet Currie, telling her that she loved her.

Blackburn Coroners’ Court heard that during the course of the short conversation, Mrs Currie became concerned about Emma’s welfare and asked if she was in a pub.

Emma, who had a long history of mental-health problems and substance abuse, said that she was at home watching footage of Emily’s birthday party, the inquest heard. Mrs Currie rang Anne-Marie Carter, a social worker at Emerald Close, and asked her to check on Emma.

Mrs Carter attended Emma’s room and discovered her on her bed, the coroner was told. Mrs Carter started cardiopulmonary resuscitation and called paramedics but it was too late.

The inquest heard Emma had a previous history of self-harm and suicide threats and attempts.

Shortly before her death she had received treatment at Chorley & South Ribble Hospital before being discharged on November 24.

Addressing Dr Chandrashkar Gangaraju, a psychiatric at the hospital, Mrs Currie said: “I cannot believe that you let her out on the Monday. To say that after she had asked not to be put on an open ward is ridiculous.

“There were incidents every day when she was at Chorley.

“I cannot get my head around how someone is in a locked ward and gets to walk free.”

Dr Gangaraju said: “The decisions that we take are extremely complex and it was made as part of a team. For the two days before she was discharged she was OK and we felt that she could always come back if she deteriorated”

Pathologist Dr Mohammed Aslam told the inquest that the cause of death was asphyxia with contributing factors of heroin and crack cocaine use.

Mr Singleton concluded that Emma killed herself.