A MOTHER-of-three from Corwen had suffered with physical and mental health for several years, an inquest into her death has heard.
Eilwen Jones, of Maes-y-Ffynon, Cerrigydrudion, died aged 70 on 19 December, 2023 after being reported as missing the day before.
At the inquest into her death in Ruthin today (May 13), Kate Robertson, assistant senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a conclusion of suicide with a medical cause of death of drowning.
The inquest heard that Mrs Jones had been born on November 3, 1953 in Corwen, and married and settled into family life after leaving school.
She and her husband had three sons, Alun, Dewi and Rhys, and she helped on the family farms in the Corwen area.
Alun told the inquest his mother enjoyed many hobbies, with her main interest being line dancing, and organised many young farmers events and was popular in the farming community.
For several years, she was an emergency planning officer for Denbighshire and Flintshire county councils, and earned a degree in emergency planning in her 50s.
However, she had struggled with her health for “several years” following a diabetes diagnosis, and struggled with constant pain in her face which “impacted on her mental health”.
Mrs Jones had “not accepted” her mental health diagnoses, as “nothing seemed to work” for her physical pain, and “didn’t grasp the need” to control her diabetes.
She was last seen by her GP on December 18, and complained of ongoing physical symptoms including “burning” in her legs, inflammation and fungal infection.
The check-up had not been “unusual”, the inquest was told.
She let her family know that she was on her way back home from the GP after 10am that morning, but there was no sign of her at home at 5pm later that day, Alun said.
At around 10pm, Alun called North Wales Police and reported her as missing, with no sign of her or her vehicle since the GP appointment.
A search was launched, with the help of her family, and Mrs Jones was found by her son Rhys at Llyn Aled the following day, drowned in the water.
A handwritten note was found by police underneath her pillow at home, in which she detailed her health struggles and apologised to her family.
A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Muhammed Aslam, a consultant pathologist at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, who provided a medical cause of death of drowning.
Mrs Robertson said there was no third party involvement, no evidence of trauma or injury being inflicted upon her, and that she had “intended to end her life at that time” after examining the note.
She gave a conclusion of suicide, with a medical cause of death by drowning.
Addressing Mrs Jones’ family, she added: “This is an incredibly difficult and sad case and I am so sorry to all of you on the loss you have suffered.
“The support you provided her in her difficult times will not have gone unnoticed by her.
“I’m sorry that you have lost a wonderful woman in such difficult circumstances - my most sincerest condolences to all of the family.”
If you would like support with your mental health, you can call Mind’s InfoLine on 0300 123 3393, or the Samaritans on 116 123.
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