Mystery surrounds the death of a Leeds student found dead in her bedroom by her housemates.
The body of Sarah Houston, 23, was discovered by her friends, lying between her bed and the wardrobe, an inquest opening heard yesterday. (Oct 2)
Leeds Coroners Court was told that Sarah lived with other medical students at the flat on Brudenell Avenue, Hyde Park.
The inquest heard she had complained of feeling hot and unwell and had been breathing heavily on the evening of Monday, September 24.
Despite being encouraged to call an ambulance, Sarah, a medical student at the Univeristy of Leeds, insisted it wasn’t unusual for her to feel that way and said that her symptoms would pass.
The court heard a housemate had left her phone ‘on loud’ for Sarah to call in the night if she needed to.
She had also checked on Sarah the next morning but said she did not see her in her bedroom.
Sarah, originally from Chesham Bois in Buckinghamshire, texted her housemate later that day but was found by another housemate that evening.
Paramedics were called and pronounced her dead at the scene at around 5.15pm on Tuesday, September 25.
A post mortem examination carried out by Dr Lisa Barker, a consultant histopathologist at St James’s Hospital in Leeds, could not determine the cause of death.
Coroner David Hinchliff said: “As things stand at the moment, we do not have any medical history.
“No cause of death is available at this stage and additional tests will need to be made to assist in finding the cause of death.”
He added: “An adjournment will be made for that purpose and for further enquiries to be made.”
A cremation order was made and an interim death certificate was issued to allow a funeral to take place.
A spokesperson from Leeds University told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “We were sorry to learn of the death of one of our students last week.
“Our thoughts are with her family and friends.
“Staff in her school are working to ensure her friends and fellow students are supported at this difficult time.”
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