Found actress Natasha Collins dead in the bath
"She took sufficient cocaine to kill people anyway."
found actress Natasha Collins dead in the bath But paramedics were unable to revive Natasha, 31, an actress, who had burns over 60 per cent of her body.Yesterday, a pathologist said it was likely the cocaine caused her to collapse while the hot tap was running, causing the horrific injuries.The level of the drug in her blood was 3.42mg per litre while a level of a fifth of that - 0.7mg - can be fatal.Speight, 43, was sworn in to give evidence at yesterday's inquest at Westminster Coroners' Court.
But he told coroner Dr Paul Knapman he had nothing to add to what he had told police or the evidence of other witnesses. He was only told last month he would not face charges over his fiancee's death in January.The court was also told Natasha showed the signs of long-term drug abuse, with a 1cm hole in the septum of her nose.
Paramedic James Eaton told the inquest Speight was "distressed" when he arrived at the couple's penthouse flat in St John's Wood, London, adding: "He just asked us to help the patient."But there was no output from Natasha's heart and her body was covered in scalds.The coroner said police found Speight kneeling over his girlfriend's body.He admitted to police that the couple had taken cocaine, saying: "We were partying."The court had heard the couple had been holed up for two days in their flat taking drugs .Speight then told officers that he and Natasha had drunk wine and vodka and taken sleeping tablets at about 4am on January 3 because they were having trouble sleeping.Natasha had also been having period-related stomach pains.When Speight was sworn in yesterday, the coroner asked him: "For very understandable reasons you are very upset. Is there anything you would like to say in addition to the evidence?"He replied: "No, I can't think of anything."
Asked if there was any of the evidence which may be misleading, he said: "Not that I can think of, no."Pathologist Professor Sebastian Lucas said: "It is not so much the amount of cocaine (that can be fatal) but the way the cocaine reacts which is unpredictable."He told the inquest the cocaine abuse could have caused Natasha to collapse and the subsequent burns then killed her.Prof Lucas gave the cause of death as cocaine toxicity and immersion in hot water.Recording a verdict of misadventure, the coroner said: "In the privacy of their flat, they had embarked on adventurous behaviour, ignoring the risks."She has suffered the consequences by the ending of her life. It is a tragedy for all concerned."It seems that while Mr Speight was asleep, at some stage she got up and had a bath."It is more likely than not she had some heart problem in the bath that caused her to lose consciousness and unfortunately she had the hot tap still going.A joint statement from Speight, who resigned from the BBC in February, and Natasha's family said: "Natasha was a loving daughter, fiancee, sister and friend with a very positive attitude towards life.
"She was always thinking of others. We are devastated that her life was cut short and we miss her deeply."She will always remain in our hearts."
