Retired school worker, 76, was found dead at her home in Birmingham by officers, inquest told

A 76-year-old woman who was found dead at her home in Birmingham died as a result of a build up of acids in her system, an inquest has heard.

Julie Harrison, who had a history of heavy drinking, was found on the bedroom floor of her home in Newton Road, Great Barr, on December 19 last year by police officers who were carrying out a welfare check.

The hearing at the Black Country Coroner’s Court in Oldbury this week was told that the retired Sandwell school receptionist was last heard from on December 12.

The cause of her death was given as severe acidosis (excess acid build up) and chronic alcoholism.

However, the hearing was told that despite Ms Harrison’s issues there was no evidence of alcohol consumption prior to her death and the divorcee was not a diabetic.

Non-diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare, life-threatening metabolic emergency where high levels of acids produced by the liver build up in the blood without diabetes. It causes severe acidosis and can lead to death if left untreated.

Recording a narrative conclusion, assistant coroner Ruth Mann said: “I am taking into consideration the fact that she died from ketoacidosis of an unknown cause, whilst it can be said that chronic alcoholism may have been a contributory factor in her death.”