AN EAST Lancashire mum drowned in the bath after drinking alcohol, an inquest heard.

Carole Anne Abraham, 49, died on December 2 last year at her friend Stuart Jones' house in Manchester Road, Haslingden.

The inquest heard how she had gone round to apologise after her son assaulted Mr Jones before turning on her.

Recently widowed Mrs Abraham, of Peel Park Avenue, Accrington, fell down the stairs following the fight, in which she tried to take an airgun off her son, the day before her death.

The inquest, at Burnley Magistrates Court heard how she suffered 15 injuries including extensive bruising and was in discomfort when she arrived at Mr Jones' house.

Mr Jones said they went to the off-licence for a bottle of whisky. However he said she complained that she was freezing' and was shivering so he offered to run a hot bath.

He said: "She looked a bit banged up and said she was hurting everywhere and was freezing cold. That's why I suggested having a bath.

"The water in the bath was losing temperature. I thought she was asleep.

"I let some water out and put some more hot water in to keep the temperature up because I thought she was asleep.

"I thought even if she's asleep, she's not going to drown because she would cough and splutter.

"Then I started to think this is not right, I couldn't find a pulse and couldn't see her breathing, that's when I started to give her CPR."

He called an ambulance but she died at Fairfield Hospital, Bury.

Mr Jones, who had only known Mrs Abraham for a week, was questioned by police twice following her death but was later released without charge.

Her mum Kathleen Foster, of Burnley Road, Accrington, said she found it hard to believe her daughter could have died from drowning and told the pathologist his explanation "better be good".

She said: "She can't have drowned - she was a good swimmer."

Doctors said that because she had consumed enough alcohol to be three times over the legal driving limit, her reflexes would be affected.

Forensic Home Office pathologist Dr John Ruther-ford, said the cause of death was drowning.

Coroner Richard Taylor said: "She was clearly in discomfort on that night.

"It seemed a good idea that she should take a hot bath to relax her.

"She had taken drink. She was no doubt very relaxed by the bath.

"He Mr Jones only left the room for a matter of seconds.

"Half a cup full of water is all that was needed, she was relaxed, maybe asleep.

"If that water got into the lungs, tragically that proved fatal."

Verdict: Accidental death.