Tragic death of Wigan mum with 'heart of gold'

An inquest held on Tuesday (March 16) heard how Christine Gore, 50, had endured a “difficult life” and “had been through a lot”, having been an alcoholic for 20 years and battling severe depression and anxiety.

One of eight children, Ms Gore was placed in foster care at the end of her childhood.

In a statement, daughter Danielle Gore said her mother “always put others before herself”.

“Mum had hobbies including drawing and painting and was a sociable, bubbly person with a heart of gold,” she said.

Ms Gore was found at her Snowdon Avenue address in Worsley Mesnes on June 20 last year, the inquest was told.

Her daughter explained how Ms Gore had been “really happy” in the last few weeks of her life.

She had moved into a new bungalow and was looking forward to the birth of her grandchild, something which she never got to see.

But Ms Gore spent a lot of time in and out of hospital during her life, battling severe and chronic pain which left her needing to take pain reliever oxycodine.

Her daughter said Ms Gore would take her medication when she needed it and said she had known her to take more than required because of the pain.

Dr Emil Salmo, a consultant pathologist at Royal Bolton Hospital, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said the medical cause of Ms Gore’s death was combined drug toxicity.

This was caused by oxycodine and anti-depressant Sertraline she had taken.

The hearing heard a statement from consultant forensic toxicologist Julie Evans, which said Ms Gore’s blood concentration of sertraline and oxycodine had been of “some concern” but the levels were below those seen in previous fatalities.

She also said there had been evidence of alcohol and use of multiple prescription drugs in her system.

But Ms Gore’s alcohol levels were below the legal drink drive limit and the prescription drugs were at therapeutic levels, with neither contributing towards her death.

The inquest was also told by her GP Dr Andrew Ollerton that Ms Gore would come to his surgery every two weeks over the years and would always keep on top of her medication.

He said: “It was prescribed appropriately and not excessive and she would ask for it regularly.

“She was a gentle person and a friend of mine.”

Recording a conclusion of misadventure, assistant coroner Simon Nelson, said Ms Gore had taken the medication to alleviate her pain and that there was “most certainly” no intent to end her life.

He said: “Against a backdrop of severe and chronic pain and having ingested an excess amount of certain prescribed medication, Ms Gore was discovered at her home address on June 20 where her death was confirmed.”