A SHOP manager who suffered with chronic pain died after an accidental overdose on prescribed medication, an inquest heard.

Cockermouth Coroner’s Court heard how Kate Jean Tyler, 47, was found dead at her home in Coniston by partner John Duxbury on May 8 last year.

The hearing heard how ‘beautiful and intelligent’ Miss Tyler, the manager of Ambleside outdoors shop The Epicentre, had struggled with long-running pain in her back and spine.

She died after taking painkillers pregabalin and tramadol in amounts that far exceeded usual therapeutic use, according to a toxicologist.

Mr Duxbury said his partner had been her usual self when he spoke to her in a video call the day before.

The inquest heard that he had received no response from her the next day and at around 4.30pm drove to Coniston from his home in Preston to check on Miss Tyler.

In a statement read to the court, he described looking through a window to see his partner lying in bed with the duvet over her face.

He entered the house, in Little Moss, through a window left open for Miss Tyler’s cats, and discovered her body.

Mr Duxbury sought help from neighbour Alyson Ormandy, telling her: “She’s dead. Kate’s dead.”

Police officers who attended the scene around 7.30pm found empty blister packs of medication by her bed.

Paramedics declared she had passed away at 8pm.

Both Mr Duxbury and sister Julie Watson said Miss Tyler had seemed normal and happy in the week before her death, but was experiencing toothache and had a history of depression.

Mrs Watson said she had been planning a family holiday to Cornwall and was due to go walking with her sister. She also told the inquest Miss Tyler was planning on moving in with Mr Duxbury.

Mrs Watson said: “She was making positive future plans and was happy.”

She added: “I’m devastated by the loss of my beautiful and intelligent Kate. She was a great outdoors person.”

Pathologist Dr Sarah Hawkswell said Miss Tyler died due to multi-drug toxicity.

Coroner Kirsty Gomersal ruled Miss Tyler died by misadventure, ruling out suicide.

She said: “It was a very tragic and accidental overdose.

“She was a young lady who had so much to live for.”