A mother and carer who was suffering from chronic anxiety died unexpectedly this summer, an inquest at Hertfordshire Coroners Court has heard. 

Angela Mooney, who lived in The Thrums in Watford, had been staying at a house a few doors down from her own when she was discovered unresponsive and not breathing by her husband on July 22. Mrs Mooney's own home was being refurbished, and she was found laying on her back on the sofa.

Describing the 45-year-old's post-mortem, Dr Matilda Ralph, pathologist at Hemel Hempstead Hospital, said there were no signs of chronic illness, violence or heart disease, and that externally there was nothing significant which suggested the cause of her death. 

Mrs Mooney's family, who were present at the inquest, explained she had often suffered from chronic episodes of anxiety and panic attacks, which caused her increased blood pressure and perhaps contributed to her weight loss. Dr Ralph noted that this alone could not have caused Mrs Mooney's death. 

Further toxicology tests revealed 46 nano grams per milliliter of cocaine in Mrs Mooney's body - 50 nano grams per milliliter is deemed toxic. She was said to be a non habitual user, but Dr Ralph said that with adrenaline already in her system from her chronic anxiety, even the smallest amount of cocaine would have tipped the balance and caused her to suffer a fatal ataxia arrhythmia - when the heart stops. She then warned of the dangers of cocaine and its unpredictability in each individual.

Mrs Mooney had taken the cocaine a few days before her death. 

Mr Thomas said: "Angela was always helping everybody. She's irreplaceable, and this is so awful because it was so unexpected."

He ruled Mrs Mooney's ataxia arrhythmia as accidental, caused by cocaine use and chronic anxiety.