Inquest into popular DW fitness instructor from Barrow concludes

Kelsie Brownlie was concerned over the future of her job following the gym chain going into administration last year - according to her family - and died shortly after on August 9, 2020, at the age of 39 at her home on Hazel Close.

The Coroner’s Court in Cockermouth was told Miss Brownlie had fallen into a bad crowd after school and got involved in drugs but had turned her life around after prison when she became a fitness instructor near Stoke-on-Trent.

“She had started a new job and she was doing really well,” her sister Joanie Kyte said in a statement.

“Later she moved back to Barrow and worked at DW Fitness.

“During lockdown when the gym was closed, she decided to start an outdoor fitness class for people to join up.

“She enjoyed going out with her friends and partying.”

On the second day of the inquest hearing, the coroner heard evidence from psychiatrists Dr Arun Kishore and Dr Fayyaz Khan and chair of Psychiatry UK Dr Andrew Montgomery.

Dr Kishore settled concerns that alcohol could impact on her ADHD medication Methylphenidate would only be relevant if she was alcohol dependent, which she was not.

INQUEST: Cockermouth Coroner’s Court.

All three doctors agreed that ADHD was the correct diagnosis.

Miss Brownlie's sister Leanne Brownlie - who found her deceased - told the court before a conclusion was made that the family have never considered the matter to be suicide.

"She had a zest for life, and she would engage with everyone," she said.

"She loved life and loved people."

Coroner Mr Craig Smith agreed that there was no evidence to suggest her death was deliberate act or suicide. Although he did admit Miss Brownlie was likely to be over-medicating due to recent stresses in her life.

"On August 9, Kelsie Brownlie was found deceased at her home," Mr Smith said concluding.

"The causation factor was the combined toxic effect of alcohol, Zopiclone and Mirtazapine."