Downham Market woman Michaela Mills died due to drug toxicity and natural causes, inquest concludes

A 53-year-old woman’s death was caused by a combination of natural causes and drug toxicity, an inquest has concluded.

Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard on Friday that Michaela Mills died at her Downham home on May 26, 2023, after complaining of chest pains.

The inquest was told that Mrs Mills – known to some as Kay – had used amphetamine (also called ‘speed’) for a number of years, including earlier that morning.

Her husband Jonathan Mills said, in a statement read to the court: “Since her passing, I have been all over the place.

“We had been together for 27 years. We had our ups and downs, but I loved her, she was my soulmate.

“I feel incomplete now.”

His statement also told of how Mrs Mills used amphetamine and cannabis for the first eight years they were together – having met in Wisbech in 1997 – before moving to Upwell to “get away from the drugs”.

“She never committed crime, she funded it through her employment,” he said.

She was then “clean” for around six years, with the pair again moving to Downham in 2011 when one of their sons started school.

“Either just before we moved, or just after, she started to use amphetamine again,” Mr Mills added.

It was at this point that her health – mentally and physically – started deteriorating, he said.

The inquest was told that on May 26, Mr Mills saw her take amphetamine at around 9am.

“It gave her the lift she needed to help her to get up and do some housework,” he said.

Later in the day, she did not eat dinner, saying that she had not been feeling well – something that was not uncommon.

In the evening, she told her husband she believed she was having a panic attack and asked him to call for an ambulance, which he did.

“I could see she was panicking so I ran upstairs to get a paper bag,” he said.

“I went downstairs with the bag and I could see her lying on the floor in the recovery position. She was motionless.”

As paramedics on the phone suggested, he then attempted chest compressions, while his son went out to find a nearby defibrillator.

However, as he returned with it, paramedics arrived and took over – spending an hour and a half attempting to save her life, but this was unsuccessful and she was declared dead at 9.47pm.

The inquest also heard from Dr Desmond Nimako, a GP at The Hollies Surgery, who said that Mrs Mills had a number of physical conditions and was also on anti-depressants.

DS Mark Tate and PC Jamie Gollands also gave evidence, which was read to the court.

Both said Mrs Mills had no signs of any injuries and there was no evidence of third-party involvement, so police treated her death as non-suspicious.

“Michaela had been complaining about chest pain in the last few days but hadn’t been to the GP,” DS Tate added, stating that they had also found evidence of drug use.

Toxicologist Dr Steven Morley, who analysed Mrs Mills’ blood and urine samples, said the results were consistent with recreational use of amphetamine and cocaine.

He said both can increase the risk of side effects relating to the heart.

Pathologist Dr Hesham El-Daly said the medical cause of her death was ischaemic heart disease and cocaine/amphetamine toxicity.

Area coroner Samantha Goward recorded a brief narrative conclusion that Mrs Mills died due to a combination of natural causes and drug toxicity.

She offered her condolences to Mrs Mills’ family.