A HUSBAND paid tribute to his late wife at an inquest held into her death.

Mother-of-three Paula Margaret Taylor, who had a history of excessive alcohol consumption, was found unconscious by her son at the bottom of the stairs in their family home, the inquest heard.

Mrs Taylor died aged 54 at her home on Westminster Avenue on Walney Island on September 26 last year.

Paying tribute to his wife, Paul Taylor said: “We had our first child in 1998 and then we purchased a house in 1999. Our son was then born in 2003, followed by our second son in 2004.

“Paula loved looking after people and had many friends. She enjoyed and loved her family very much. Her love of life has left a great void.”

Cockermouth Coroners Court heard Mrs Taylor’s son found her unresponsive around 1.45pm after he had gone downstairs to see if anyone was home.

He called his father who returned home, with paramedics confirming Mrs Taylor’s death a short time later at 2.25 pm.

The court heard police received a call after a 54-year-old female had reportedly fallen down the stairs inside the property.

They later confirmed that there was no evidence of any third-party involvement or finding of a suicide note.

Records from Mrs Taylor’s GP practice showed she had a medical history of high blood pressure, type two diabetes and asthma, the court was told.

At her last GP appointment, the court heard Mrs Taylor admitted to consuming 30 units of alcohol per week.

Coroner Robert Cohen said: “There is a large amount of evidence to suggest that those numbers are lower than the reality. She may have been drinking rather more.”

Forensic toxicologists examined her blood and found the amount of alcohol in her system was at a fatal level.

Findings showed Mrs Taylor had 306 milligrams per decilitre of alcohol in her blood and 351 milligrams per decilitre of alcohol in her urine.

The coroner told the court for reference how the legal limit for driving in England and Wales was 80 milligrams per decilitre.

Mr Cohen recorded the death as alcohol-related as a result of acute alcohol toxicity.