Bride-to-be died from diabetes attack in hotel room

The body of 33-year-old Collette Lee, a mother of two from Farnworth, was discovered by a housekeeper in a room at the Travelodge in River Street, Bolton on May 24.

Bolton Coroners Court heard how Ms Lee, who suffered from type 1 diabetes, had checked into the Travelodge around 7pm on May 23 following an argument with her partner.

She was found deceased the next day in her hotel room.

Miss Lee was the duty manager at Vanilla Bar, off Canal Street in Manchester, and it was at work where she met her partner Jennine Ruan.

The two women were engaged to be married and had moved into a home together in Plodder Lane, Farnworth last year. The couple were also considering adopting a child.

The two women had argued on May 23 and Ms Lee had left the home they shared.

According to Ms Ruan, this had happened on numerous occasions previously, and Ms Lee had always returned not long afterwards.

After leaving the house, Ms Lee sent a text to Ms Ruan, stating, "You won't see me again".

Collette Lee (left) and her fiancée Jennine Ruan.

When Ms Lee failed to return home that day, Ms Ruan became increasingly concerned and contacted the police to report her missing.

Ms Ruan said: "Collette could be moody, get stressed and had a fiery temper. We would have arguments and she would leave. But she always came home.

"She hated her diabetes because it made her gain weight and this caused her a lot of stress and anxiety.

"The week before she died she was very upset because she had put a pound on. She threatened to not take her insulin or take too much."

Ms Ruan told the court that Ms Lee had suffered several diabetic episodes, known as 'hypos', in the weeks leading to her death.

She had recently been hospitalised after collapsing at work due to low blood-sugar.

Ms Lee's body was discovered the next day by a housekeeper at Travelodge in Bolton.

Hotel staff entered room 102 at 12:10pm on May 24, after Ms Lee failed to check-out as scheduled.

Housekeeper Keeley Lingard found Ms Lee's body fully-clothed on the bed. She had 'foam' coming from her mouth and empty insulin pens by her side.

Paramedics were called to the hotel, but Ms Lee was declared dead at the scene.

Coroner Simon Nelson told Bolton Coroners Court that he had considered the findings of the consultant pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh and accepted his conclusion that the cause of death was due to "left ventricular failure due to hypoglycemia".

Dr Waugh explained to the court that Ms Lee had suffered low-blood sugar due to her diabetes, which triggered a hypoglycemic attack, known as a 'hypo'.

The hypoglycemia resulted in fluid building up in her lungs, and this prevented oxygen from reaching her brain, causing her heart to stop working.

Dr Waugh said: "Ms Lee was found with clenched fists, foamy fluid around her mouth, heavy lungs and her brain was slightly swollen.

"All organs appeared normal and there was no underlying disease process.

"There were no drugs or alcohol found in her system at all.

"Ms Lee's heart had simply stopped working, she couldn't get air into her lungs, and this caused her brain to swell.

"Hypoglycemia, or low-blood sugar, prolongs the heart beat until it stops. This resulted in acute heart failure and caused her lungs to fill up with fluid."

Police coroner Neil McCaffrey confirmed there were "no suspicious circumstances" and "no evidence of any sinister disturbance" in the hotel room.

Coroner Simon Nelson said he had to consider whether Ms Lee could have "consciously induced a hypo", as the text sent to Ms Ruan "could be indicative of self-harm".

He asked Dr Waugh whether Ms Lee could have "intended the consequences of her actions", but the consultant said he "couldn't ascertain whether it was induced deliberately".

He said: "I could not determine what her prevailing intention was."

Coroner Simon Nelson then asked Ms Lee's father, Stephen Lee, and Ms Ruan whether they considered Ms Lee to have been capable of ending her own life.

Both Mr Lee and Ms Ruan said they did not believe that Ms Lee had intended to take her own life.

Ms Ruan said: "I don't believe she intended to take her own life. I never once thought she would take her own life.

"I thought everything would return to normal after her anger had passed.

"She will be very sadly missed. We were planning our future together."

Coroner Simon Nelson concluded by saying that his decision would be "based on the balance of probabilities" and in considering the evidence, "there is no way I could be satisfied that she intended to kill herself."

He said: "My conclusion is she died from hypoglycemia in circumstances where the prevailing intention remains unclear.

"At the time of her death, the state of her mental health cannot be evaluated, even on the balance of probabilities.

"I conclude by recording that type 1 diabetes is the cause of Ms Lee's death."

He added: "Miss Lee had a great deal to live for. She was caring, industrious, conscientious. But I do believe she found it extraordinarily difficult to cope with her condition in the last two years.

"Her struggle with diabetes was a significant aspect of her very untimely death."

Ms Lee's father Stephen Lee, speaking at the conclusion of the hearing, said he was "satisfied and relieved" with the outcome.

He said: "I never believed she had taken her own life, and I'm very happy with the Coroner's outcome.

"She was a remarkable woman, and she would do anything for anyone. She helped so many people at the Vanilla Bar where she worked.

"I remember her telling me about one young girl who came into the club one night upset and asked Collette about being gay.

"Collette took the time out to speak with her and reassure her that everything would be OK. The young girl told Collette that she had saved her life. That's the kind of person she was."