MUM SNIFFED EIGHT CANS OF LIGHTER FUEL A DAY

A mother-of-two died after sniffing up to eight bottles of lighter fuel a day, an inquest heard.

DIY enthusiast Sinita Roa, 36, died after binging on solvents and methadone, Westminster Coroner’s Court heard.

Her partner tried and failed to wake her in the living room of their home at (4) Willow Vale, Hammersmith, west London, on May 26 this year.

But she had suffered a massive heart attack and paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene.

A toxicology report found a high level of methadone in her bloodstream, along with traces of four different solvents – including propane.

Consultant pathologist Dr Peter Jerreat, who performed an autopsy five days after the death, told the inquest that Ms Roa had taken a ‘potentially fatal’ combination of drugs.

‘There is no true level when you can say death will occur,’ he said.

‘Death is not always straight away and the blood metabolises – but this is a potentially fatal level [of methadone].

‘Solvent inhalation can cause death in several ways; it frequently causes problems with the heart and eventually causes disorder to the rhythm in the heart.

‘Methadone would repress respiration, so at that stage she may be hypoxic and, in that state, you are going to be more sensitive to cardiac problems.

‘The combination is potentially a killer.’

The inquest heard that Ms Roa was diagnosed as an alcoholic in 1987 but was successfully weaned off drink after taking a detox programme in October 2008.

Her medical records showed she was prescribed anti-depressants and methadone.

Coroner’s officer Lynda Martindill said Ms Roa was ‘a polite, respectful, positive person and she had a rebellious side, but was still always fun-loving and had a heart of gold.’

‘She loved DIY, music and dancing,’ she said.

Recording a narrative verdict deputy Coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said: ‘She has died as a result of solvents and drugs.’

‘Methadone can be fatal at any amount – it’s somewhat dependant on how long they use it for.

‘However, methadone can lead to death due to cardio-respiratory depression, and solvent inhalation can lead to death even in somebody who has been using it for some time.’

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