31 July 2023 , 18:36
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A 29-year-old mum died after taking cocaine and trying to pull her teeth in a manic state, an inquest has heard.
Kiera Kent passed away at her home in St Ive near Liskeard, Cornwall, in July last year, despite the help of paramedics Gemma Henderson and Leanne Gould, who attended the scene. crisis. The inquest heard Ms Kent had problems with her wisdom teeth and after taking cocaine she put her hand in her mouth and tried to pull out her teeth. She also scratched and pulled at her own skin.
After her passing, Kiera was described as the "life and soul" of her family and such a loving person to all who knew her. She was a devoted mother to her five children and is missed by all who knew her.
Giving evidence at the inquest, DC Lindsay Cork told the court how a post-mortem report showed scratches and abrasions consistent with Kiera pulling at her own skin. There was also evidence that she had put her hands into her mouth and caused significant injury.
DC Cork explained how Kiera's partner Liam Crabtree called the police after becoming concerned for Kiera's welfare. He spoke of how they had both used cocaine previously and in the evening before Kiera's behaviour became "bizarre and erratic". Her cause of death was recorded as acute behaviour disturbance following cocaine use. Later in the hearing, it was said that the cocaine use could have exacerbated a chemical/electrolyte imbalance leading to death, Cornwall Live reports.
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DC Cork then read through a police report that stated that Kiera and Mr Crabtree had people over for a barbecue that day and then put the children to bed once the guests left. After taking cocaine Kiera went upstairs and when she didn't reappear Mr Crabtree became alarmed.
He went upstairs and found his partner lying on the pillow, surrounded by blood with her hands in her mouth. Kiera then went and picked up a razor and Mr Crabtree wrestled her as she attempted to put it in her mouth. Mr Crabtree then rang 999 telling the operator his partner was trying to pull her teeth out.
Police arrived and requested an ambulance but there was a considerable delay until the responders arrived. PCs Gould and Henderson handcuffed Kiera's hands in front of her to try and protect her. When she stopped breathing they commenced CPR for 30 minutes before paramedics arrived and she was pronounced dead.
Messages from Kiera's phone indicated she was having problems with wisdom tooth pain. Giving evidence, PCs Gould and Henderson said they did all they could to try and save Kiera but they just wished ambulance help turned up sooner. PC Henderson was visibly shaken giving evidence and Kiera's family thanked the attending officers for their care and compassion calling them "a credit to the profession". An IOPC investigation determined that there was nothing more whatsoever the officers could have done to help Kiera.
Concluding the inquest, assistant coroner for Cornwall Guy Davies said that after taking cocaine Kiera's behaviour became "bizarre and concerning". He said: "PCs Gould and Henderson found Kiera in a highly distressed condition, covered in blood, her hands injured and redraw after being thrust into her mouth. The officers endeavoured to restrain Kiera but during the process, she stopped breathing. CPR was commenced by the officers who summoned assistance and a defibrillator before paramedics arrived and determined Kiera dead at the scene. The two officers fought valiantly to try and save her life."
Mr Davies explained that although Kiera's cocaine level was not in the toxic range, it is possible that it can cause death by creating an electrolyte/chemical imbalance, even when no anatomical reasons for death are apparent. Mr Davies said that the cocaine accounted for the medical episode that caused Kiera's death, recording a conclusion of a drug-related death. Mr Davies offered his condolences to Kiera's family and expressed his thanks to PCs Gould and Henderson for their heroic efforts.