Cath Partridge died of liver failure caused by heavy drinking (From This is Hampshire)

Cath Partridge died of liver failure caused by heavy drinking

11:48am Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Chris Gregory

A mother-of-two with a drinking problem died of liver failure, an inquest heard.

Cath Partridge, 54, was found dead in her home in Sherborne Road, Oakridge, Basingstoke, on the morning of June 15.

The night before, she had spent the night watching television coverage of the Euro 2012 Ireland v Spain game, with her former husband Les.

An inquest at Alton Magistrates’ Court heard that Mr Partridge had separated from his wife six years ago but lived next door for the sake of their two teenage children. The couple had been married for 27 years.

Mr Patridge told the inquest: “She went to bed and I left. I had the next day off and I came back in the morning and found her (dead).”

He added that his former wife went through periods of week-long alcohol binges, and suffered from depression, but had always held down a job.

The inquest heard Mrs Partridge had a damaged liver. Andrew Bradley, coroner for north-east Hampshire, said she died of liver failure “having been a heavy drinker”.

After recording a verdict of death by natural causes, he told her husband: “It’s the long-term effects of alcohol that causes the breakdown of the system.

“My sympathy for you – this is a matter of great sadness.”