The coroner has reported that excessive alcohol consumption led to the death of Amy Winehouse.
Following an inquest, a verdict of misadventure was recorded regarding the 27-year-old’s demise, after it was revealed she was over five times the legal drink-drive limit.
On 23 July, Winehouse was discovered deceased at her Camden home in north London.
Coroner Suzanne Greenway indicated that the “unintended consequence” of Winehouse’s heavy drinking resulted in her “sudden and unexpected death.”
The Coroners Court was informed that three empty vodka bottles—two large and one small—were located in her flat.
The inquest disclosed that the acclaimed singer, who had five Grammy awards in 2008, registered 416mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood; the legal limit is 80mg.
According to the pathologist who carried out her post-mortem, a fatal alcohol level is considered to be 350mg per 100ml of blood.
The examination showed that while Winehouse’s vital organs were in good condition, a significant amount of alcohol in her system could have impaired her breathing and led to a coma.
Toxicology results indicated that no illegal drugs were present in her system at the time of her passing.
The inquest revealed that live-in guard Andrew Morris found her in bed at 10am, mistakenly believing she was asleep.
Five hours later, he stated she was “lying on the bed in the same position.”
“I became immediately concerned, went over to check on her,” he said.
“Upon checking, I realized she wasn’t breathing and had no pulse, prompting me to call emergency services.”
While Winehouse had overcome her drug addiction, she had reverted to a cycle of abstaining from alcohol for weeks before relapsing, as noted during the inquest.
It was reported that she had abstained from drinking for three weeks leading up to 22 July.
Her general practitioner, Dr. Christina Romete, who treated the singer for several years, stated that the night before her death, Winehouse expressed uncertainty about quitting drinking but stated “she did not want to die.”
“She was optimistic about the future,” the doctor shared.
Winehouse was under treatment for alcohol withdrawal and anxiety medications and had been assessed the prior year by both a psychologist and psychiatrist regarding her drinking habits.
“She had her own method and was very determined to approach everything on her terms,” Dr. Romete stated.
“This included any type of therapy. She held very rigid views.”
After the inquest, Winehouse’s family released a statement expressing gratitude for the support they received.
They mentioned that it brought “some relief to finally uncover what happened to Amy.”
