Latest news with #NorfolkCoroner'sCourt
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Escape To The Country star's final hours as routine procedure turned sinister
An Escape To The Country star tragically died while undergoing a routine medical procedure just hours after being admitted to hospital due to vomiting blood An Escape To The Country star's cause of death has been confirmed after an agonising 24 hours. Emma Izzard, who appeared on the programme in 2021, died just one day after she was admitted to the hospital. She was rushed to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital in November last year after falling ill and vomiting blood. Norfolk Coroner's Court heard that Ms Izzard had been battling alcoholism in the lead up to her death due to a personal situation she had been quietly battling. She was admitted to the hospital on November 19, last year, due to vomiting blood. While there, she went into cardiac arrest but medics were able to resuscitate Ms Izzard, giving her a second chance. However, just one day later, she underwent a gastroscopy –which involves a tube with a camera attached being inserted into the body via the mouth in order to examine the stomach, oesophagus, and duodenum, typically used to investigate symptoms such as pain, bleeding or swallowing difficulties. It was during the routine procedure that Ms Izzard suffered another cardiac arrest. However, doctors were unable to resuscitate her again. At the inquest, it was concluded that Ms. Izzard's death resulted from an oesophageal and variceal haemorrhage, with underlying alcohol-related liver disease. Kym, Emma's ex-partner, shared poignant details: "Emma had a very strong bond with her mother." "Emma lived with her for many years and continued to look after her even when she did move out. [Emma's] alcohol levels increased when her mother was taken to hospital in July 2022, and she thought she was going to lose her. After six months of secret drinking, she wanted to stop but couldn't get the help required quickly enough and began drinking again." The inquest was told that Emma had been in rehab numerous times, but with every relapse, her drinking became more severe. Tragically, her late father also battled alcoholism, dying when Emma was only a teen. Kym, reflecting on Emma's life, said: "Emma was a larger-than-life character who was very popular both in and outside of her work, and she had many friends. "She was very caring but had had personal struggles earlier in her life that she was unable to deal with." Ms Izzard also sought the help from Change Grow Live (CGL), a charity for those who are dealing with alcoholism, as well as Alcoholics Anonymous. "Emma did not want to drink but it had taken a strong hold of her," Kym stated, continuing: "And she didn't and couldn't deal with her problems. Her drinking became heavier, and she became desperate." The area coroner Johanna Thompson told the court: "Emma had a history of excess alcohol consumption and had been diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease. At the hospital, Emma was clearly presenting as very poorly. She was white, dehydrated, and was considered to have symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. "Sadly, after being given surgery, treatment could not save her at the end of the day." It emerged during the hearing that Ms Izzard, who worked for a charity as a general assistant, handled her daily responsibilities competently whenever she wasn't drinking. The former BBC One participant, who appeared on the programme in 2021 from Luton, Bedfordshire, had dreams of a fresh start with her partner in Norfolk, lured by the promise of "clean air" and a "slower pace of life." Yet, following their move to North Walsham, the two ultimately went their separate ways but have maintained a close friendship.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Woman who appeared on Escape to the Country to find 'perfect life' dies of alcoholism
A woman who appeared on a BBC programme with aspirations to live out her dream life in Norfolk died after struggling with alcoholism. An inquest into the death of Emma Izzard heard that the 53-year-old passed away at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N) last November. Miss Izzard had previously appeared on an episode of the BBC program Escape to the Country, with her then partner Kym Lofthouse. Host Ginny Buckley had been given the job of helping the couple, who lived near Luton in Bedfordshire, to find their perfect Norfolk home Emma Izzard (left) appeared on the BBC's Escape to the Country (Image: BBC) They had opted to move to the county in search of "cleaner air" and a slower pace of life. And while the couple did eventually make the move to North Walsham, they ended up parting ways but remained friends. In a statement to Norfolk Coroner's Court, Miss Lofthouse revealed Miss Izzard's struggles with alcoholism. She said: 'Emma was a larger-than-life character who was very popular both in and outside of her work, and she had many friends. 'She was very caring but had had personal struggles earlier in her life that she was unable to deal with.' Emma Izzard (far right) appeared on the BBC's Escape to the Country (Image: BBC) The court also heard that her father had been an alcoholic who died suddenly during Miss Izzard's teenage years. And her mother, who had died shortly before Miss Izzard's own passing, struggled with mental ill health – something Miss Izzard supported her with. Miss Lofthouse added: 'Emma had a very strong bond with her mother. 'Emma lived with her for many years and continued to look after her even when she did move out. '[Emma's] alcohol levels increased when her mother was taken to hospital in July 2022, and she thought she was going to lose her. 'After six months of secret drinking, she wanted to stop but couldn't get the help required quickly enough and began drinking again.' READ MORE: READ MORE: During the next two years, Miss Izzard would go on to self-fund multiple stints in rehabilitation as well as an at-home detox, but relapses caused her drinking 'to become heavier'. She also attended AA meetings and received some help from alcohol misuse charity Change Grow Live (CGL). 'Emma did not want to drink but it had taken a strong hold of her,' Miss Lofthouse said. 'And she didn't and couldn't deal with her problems. 'Her drinking became heavier, and she became desperate.' Emma Izzard died at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital last year (Image: Facebook) On the evening of November 19, Miss Izzard, of Willow Close, North Walsham, was taken by ambulance to the N&N after she began vomiting blood. Once there, she went into cardiac arrest but was revived. The following day, she arrested again while receiving a gastroscopy and died in the operating theatre. A doctor's report gave the medical cause of death as oesophageal and variceal bleed, with alcohol-related liver disease. Summing up the evidence to the court, area coroner Johanna Thompson explained how Miss Izzard had tried to get help for her addiction. She said: 'Emma had a history of excess alcohol consumption and had been diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease. 'At the hospital, Emma was clearly presenting as very poorly. She was white, dehydrated, and was considered to have symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. 'Sadly, after being given surgery, treatment could not save her at the end of the day.' Ms Thompson concluded her was an alcohol-related death. The court also heard that Miss Izzard worked as a general assistant for a charity and dealt with day-to-day life 'competently when not drinking'. For support with drug or alcohol use, contact Change Grow Live Norfolk, a drug and alcohol service offered to Norfolk residents, on 01603 514096 or email Or contact the Matthew Project/Unity, drug and alcohol service for children, young people and their families across Norfolk, on 0800 970 4866 or email unity@ To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Missing man's mum hopes for peace after remains find
The mother of a man missing for 18 years said she was "hoping for some peace" after human remains were found close to where he disappeared. Terry McSpadden was 24 when he was last seen on March 2 2007 after spending the evening in the Locomotive pub in Wisbech, close to the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border. On Sunday police were called to Lynn Road, Walton Highway, in Wisbech after a discovery of partial human remains by a member of the public. Mr McSpadden's mother, Helen Thrower, confirmed that police had contacted the family about the find. She said: "It's too early to say whether it's Terry or not. "Me and other people whose family members are missing, we're hoping for some peace. Until we get some identification, we can't know." The father of two had been working as a window fitter and had been at the Locomotive pub in Wisbech the night he went missing. He was seen on CCTV withdrawing money from a cash machine at Tesco at 01:00 GMT, and buying goods in the store. He never turned up at work that Friday morning and his hand-painted black mountain bike, which he used for local transport, was never recovered. In 2013, a crown court judge threw out a murder prosecution on grounds of insufficient evidence. Three years later, Norfolk Coroner's Court ruled Terry likely died the day he disappeared. A spokesperson said: "Officers are exploring a number of lines of inquiry. "The cordon is still in place on Lynn Road and will remain for some time." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Missing man's family want answers 18 years on Memorial for son missing for 10 years Missing man probably dead, coroner rules Reward in missing man cold case Norfolk Police
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Unlicensed motorcyclist killed in crash with van
An unlicensed motorcyclist died from a traumatic head injury after he collided with a van, a coroner said. Harvey Wilson, 19, of Elm near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was riding a Kawasaki KX 250F through West Walton, Norfolk, on 8 July when he lost control on a bend. Norfolk Coroner's Court heard the bike was designed for off-road use its tyres were clearly marked "not for highway use". Mr Wilson's helmet was found a metre from his body and police forensic crash investigators said it was likely it had not been fastened properly. Mr Wilson and his friend Bradley Didwell had purchased the bike the week before the collision and had split the cost between them. The court heard they had practised riding the bike off-road several times. Mr Wilson, who was a trainee electrician, did not hold a motorcycle licence and had not completed a compulsory basic training course. The court heard how the vehicle was not taxed or insured for road use and was not road legal. The motocross-style helmet had been purchased only two days before the crash and Mr Didwell said he was not sure if Mr Wilson had fastened it properly when they decided to take the bike out, with Mr Didwell following in his grey VW Polo. Mr Didwell said: "It was after he took that first right-hand corner he was out of my sight... when I went a bit further up the road that's when I saw Harvey had come off the bike. "The helmet Harvey was wearing was not on him," he said. The driver of the van, Karl Pettifar said he did not recall the helmet being on Mr Wilson's head following the collision. He believed Mr Wilson was "going too fast". He said: "The bike went out from underneath him... I was already hitting the brake when I came to a stop." He said he could see Mr Wilson's head was under part of the van. "I do not think he was wearing a helmet, I remember seeing his ear... he was unconscious and I could not tell if he was not breathing or just about breathing." The police forensic officer concluded there was nothing Mr Pettifar could have done to prevent the collision and there was insufficient time to react. Mr Pettifar called for an ambulance and Mr Wilson was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn where he was pronounced dead. Police said a toxicology report found there was no alcohol or cannabis in Mr Wilson's blood, and historical traces of cocaine use were deemed unlikely to have impaired his driving. Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a conclusion that Mr Wilson died as a result of a road traffic collision. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Norfolk Coroner's Court
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Unlicensed motorcyclist killed in crash with van
An unlicensed motorcyclist died from a traumatic head injury after he collided with a van, a coroner said. Harvey Wilson, 19, of Elm near Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, was riding a Kawasaki KX 250F through West Walton, Norfolk, on 8 July when he lost control on a bend. Norfolk Coroner's Court heard the bike was designed for off-road use its tyres were clearly marked "not for highway use". Mr Wilson's helmet was found a metre from his body and police forensic crash investigators said it was likely it had not been fastened properly. Mr Wilson and his friend Bradley Didwell had purchased the bike the week before the collision and had split the cost between them. The court heard they had practised riding the bike off-road several times. Mr Wilson, who was a trainee electrician, did not hold a motorcycle licence and had not completed a compulsory basic training course. The court heard how the vehicle was not taxed or insured for road use and was not road legal. The motocross-style helmet had been purchased only two days before the crash and Mr Didwell said he was not sure if Mr Wilson had fastened it properly when they decided to take the bike out, with Mr Didwell following in his grey VW Polo. Mr Didwell said: "It was after he took that first right-hand corner he was out of my sight... when I went a bit further up the road that's when I saw Harvey had come off the bike. "The helmet Harvey was wearing was not on him," he said. The driver of the van, Karl Pettifar said he did not recall the helmet being on Mr Wilson's head following the collision. He believed Mr Wilson was "going too fast". He said: "The bike went out from underneath him... I was already hitting the brake when I came to a stop." He said he could see Mr Wilson's head was under part of the van. "I do not think he was wearing a helmet, I remember seeing his ear... he was unconscious and I could not tell if he was not breathing or just about breathing." The police forensic officer concluded there was nothing Mr Pettifar could have done to prevent the collision and there was insufficient time to react. Mr Pettifar called for an ambulance and Mr Wilson was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn where he was pronounced dead. Police said a toxicology report found there was no alcohol or cannabis in Mr Wilson's blood, and historical traces of cocaine use were deemed unlikely to have impaired his driving. Coroner Johanna Thompson recorded a conclusion that Mr Wilson died as a result of a road traffic collision. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Norfolk Coroner's Court
