A NURSE whose body was discovered on Tyne Green, in Hexham, died after taking a lethal overdose of painkillers, an inquest heard this week.

A member of the public found the body of Alice Gundrey (40) on January 4, on the banks of a burn near Tynedale Golf Club, shortly after she had been reported missing from her home in Spittal Terrace, Hexham.

A post mortem revealed she had taken a large quantity of prescribed drugs and had a blood-alcohol level that was twice the drink-drive limit.

On the evening prior to her death she had been with a neighbour, who said she had been low and talked about taking her own life.

Later, she sent a text to a friend, asking for help and saying she had taken an overdose. The friend alerted police as soon as she read the message the following morning.

South Northumberland coroner Eric Armstrong recorded a narrative verdict. He concluded the cause of death was a drugs overdose, but said her state of mind was unclear because of the amount of alcohol she had consumed.

He concluded: “I take the view that Alice took her own life, but I don’t believe she was in a clear state of mind when she carried out her actions.

“I cannot be sure beyond reasonable doubt that at the time she was capable of rational thought.”