A 47-YEAR-OLD woman died following a fall at her home, an inquest heard.

Patricia Noonan was found at the bottom of the stairs in the living room of her house in Whittaker Street, Blackburn, on March 11 this year.

The hearing, at Preston Coroners’ Court, was told that Ms Noonan had suffered a neck injury in the fall.

She had last been seen by her parents on March 4 and had made telephone contact with them on March 8.

Her parents visited her house on March 11 but could not gain entry to the house.

They contacted the police who managed to get into the house and discovered Ms Noonan at the bottom of the stairs.

Pathologist Dr Deepa Jacobs, who carried out the post-mortem examination, said the medical cause of Ms Noonan’s death was a fracture-dislocation of the atlantoaxial joint neck vertebrae from a fall.

Her mum Madeline Noonan said: “The last time I saw my daughter was on March 4.

“She suffered from depression and anxiety.

“I don’t believe her mental health contributed to her death.

“She was on medication which she was taking.”

Dr Tafti, of the early intervention service at Accrington, which is responsible for assessing patients starting on medication and undertaking follow-up reviews, said: “I had a meeting with Patricia and never had a reason to believe she was at risk of harming herself.

“She suffered with anxiety and panic disorder and social phobia.”

Sgt Mackinney, of Lancashire Police, who investigated Ms Noonan’s death, said: “I managed to gain entry to the property as all the doors were locked, and found her at the bottom of the stairs.

“There had been no other entry other than the police attendance and all property appeared to be in place.

“There were no suspicious circumstances,” Sgt Mackinney added.

East Lancashire assistant coroner Richard Taylor said there was nothing to suggest it was anything other than a tragic accident.

Recording his verdict, Mr Taylor said: “I conclude this was an accidental death from injuries sustained in an unwitnessed fall.”