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Lowestoft 20-year-old died following solvent abuse, Suffolk Coroner's Court hears




A family has described a Lowestoft 20-year-old as 'helpful and happy but a bit confused about who she was' at in inquest into her death.

Emma Henwood, otherwise known as Jay, who had a history of solvent abuse, was found unresponsive at her London Road South flat on the evening of October 18 last year.

Paramedics and air ambulance crews were called but, despite an hour of resuscitation attempts, Jay was pronounced dead at 9.20pm.

Emma Henwood, otherwise known as Jay, had a history of solvent abuse
Emma Henwood, otherwise known as Jay, had a history of solvent abuse

Coroner Nigel Parsley today praised emergency services for their efforts to revive Jay and passed on his condolences to her family, calling the death 'tragic'.

Suffolk Coroner's Court was told about Jay's issues with solvents and police officers who attended the scene described seeing evidence of this laying around the living room when they entered.

A statement from Turning Point, an organisation offering substance abuse help in the county, said Jay was known to them from February 2021 to July 2021.

Coroner Nigel Parsley today praised emergency services for their efforts to revive Jay. Picture: Mark Westley
Coroner Nigel Parsley today praised emergency services for their efforts to revive Jay. Picture: Mark Westley

Jay's GP records also showed she had suffered with anxiety since 2019.

The court heard there had been an instance in January 2021 where she arrived to an assessment appointment intoxicated.

However, she had described herself as 'stable' and said she had no thoughts or plans to take her own life.

The inquest heard a post-mortem examination found no internal or physical issues that would have caused Jay's death.

Post-mortem examination found no internal or physical issues that would have caused Jay's death. Picture: Mark Westley
Post-mortem examination found no internal or physical issues that would have caused Jay's death. Picture: Mark Westley

Toxicology investigations determined Jay died from inhaling a chemical, a conclusion Coroner Nigel Parsley recorded in the inquest.

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