A recession-hit freelance business consultant took

A recession-hit freelance business consultant took an overdose
of pills and in her drugged stupor rediscovered – tragically, too
late – her will to live, an inquest heard today Tuesday.

For she had taken 30 Paracetamol tablets, and the drug killed her
liver in two days, Southwark Coroners Court was told.

A verdict of death by misadventure was recorded.

Miss Donna Holman, 39, of Castleditch, Lewes, Sussex, took
the pills on November 5 but waited until the next day before
she admitted herself to the Royal Sussex Hospital.

The inquest heard that Ms Holman was quickly transferred to
London’s Kings College Hospital, whose internationally famous liver
unit specialises in the treatment of Paracetamol overdose.

Surgeons hoped to give her a liver transplant.

Coroners officer Norman Cullum explained that she had arrived
at Kings in a deep state of coma and the operation could not be carried
out.

She died the next day.

Coroner Sir Montague Levine said: ‘This is a terribly sad case
where a woman who seems to have had a successful business fell foul
of the economic recession.

‘Whatever her initial feelings were about taking her life, she
certainly rediscovered a will to live by checking into hospital and
telling doctors what she had done.

‘
The cause of death was given as Paracetemol overdose leading to
liver failure.

ENDS