This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/london/7326226.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Actress died after taking drugs | Actress died after taking drugs |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Children's TV actress Natasha Collins died after taking a "very significant" amount of cocaine, an inquest heard. | Children's TV actress Natasha Collins died after taking a "very significant" amount of cocaine, an inquest heard. |
| Miss Collins, 31, the fiancee of TV presenter Mark Speight, was found dead in the bath at their flat in St John's Wood, north-west London, on 3 January. | Miss Collins, 31, the fiancee of TV presenter Mark Speight, was found dead in the bath at their flat in St John's Wood, north-west London, on 3 January. |
| She had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets at the time, and hot water burns covered 60% of her body, Westminster Coroner's Court heard. | She had taken cocaine and sleeping tablets at the time, and hot water burns covered 60% of her body, Westminster Coroner's Court heard. |
| The coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. | The coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. |
| Consultant pathologist Professor Sebastian Lucas gave the cause of death as cocaine toxicity and immersion in hot water. | Consultant pathologist Professor Sebastian Lucas gave the cause of death as cocaine toxicity and immersion in hot water. |
| Mr Speight, who presented BBC children's show SMart, met Miss Collins while filming another children's show, See It Saw It. | Mr Speight, who presented BBC children's show SMart, met Miss Collins while filming another children's show, See It Saw It. |
| The inquest heard he called the emergency services when he woke on the Thursday afternoon to discover his fiancee dead in the bath. | The inquest heard he called the emergency services when he woke on the Thursday afternoon to discover his fiancee dead in the bath. |
| He told police the couple had been "partying" at home on their own and had taken cocaine and sleeping pills as well as drinking wine and vodka. | He told police the couple had been "partying" at home on their own and had taken cocaine and sleeping pills as well as drinking wine and vodka. |
| Police will take no further action against Mr Speight | Police will take no further action against Mr Speight |
| Mr Speight was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs. Six days later police said he was no longer a murder suspect, and last month police said they would take no further action against him. | |
| Prof Lucas told the inquest that "high" levels of cocaine, within the range at which the drug can be fatal, were found in Miss Collins' blood stream. | Prof Lucas told the inquest that "high" levels of cocaine, within the range at which the drug can be fatal, were found in Miss Collins' blood stream. |
| Burns over Miss Collins' body and face, including her tongue, were consistent with being immersed in very hot water, he added. | Burns over Miss Collins' body and face, including her tongue, were consistent with being immersed in very hot water, he added. |
| Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said the evidence pointed to the presenter collapsing in the bath. | Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said the evidence pointed to the presenter collapsing in the bath. |
| "We have heard that, within the privacy of their flat, they had embarked on adventurous behaviour, ignoring the risks," said Dr Knapman. | "We have heard that, within the privacy of their flat, they had embarked on adventurous behaviour, ignoring the risks," said Dr Knapman. |
| "It is more likely than not that she had some heart problem when in the bath that caused her to lose consciousness." | "It is more likely than not that she had some heart problem when in the bath that caused her to lose consciousness." |
| After the verdict, Mr Speight and Miss Collins' mother, Carmen, issued a joint statement which described Natasha as "a loving daughter, fiancee, sister and friend". | After the verdict, Mr Speight and Miss Collins' mother, Carmen, issued a joint statement which described Natasha as "a loving daughter, fiancee, sister and friend". |
| It added: "We are devastated that her life was cut short and we miss her deeply. She will always remain in our hearts." | It added: "We are devastated that her life was cut short and we miss her deeply. She will always remain in our hearts." |