‘Caring’ young woman died suddenly in Bournemouth home

Evelyn Rose Barnett struggled for years with an undiagnosed sickness before suddenly dying at her flat in Southbourne.

An inquest held at Bournemouth Town Hall on January 29 heard that the 27-year-old was ‘bright’ and studied at Bournemouth University but her illness was ‘incredibly debilitating’.

In a tribute to his daughter, Clive Barnett, said Evelyn was a funny, cheeky person who cared deeply for her friends and family, ‘sometimes more than she did about herself’.

He added: “She had a history of migraines and panic attacks, which led to some mental distress, and post lockdown these issues were severe and materially impaired her ability to leave her home.

“Despite these challenges, she was looking forward to 2023 and saw a positive future ahead.”

Clive told Dorset Coroner’s Court that he moved in with Evelyn on St Catherine’s Road two years before her death when her sickness left her unable to work.

She suffered from bouts of vomiting and intense anxiety, which sometimes appeared as seizures.

“She would just lay in bed because she had no confidence in going out,” said Clive.

“The sickness would happen for a few days then it would go away for a few weeks, but it would always come back.

“It was awful.”

He added that Evelyn turned to alcohol during her illness but was drinking far less at the time of her death.

Evelyn also struggled to sleep and began ordering controlled medication online when her doctor refused to prescribe them to her.

On the morning of December 23, 2022, Clive left the flat to walk his dog and returned for a short while before leaving to get a coffee.

He said ‘without exception’ he would seek a response from Evelyn before leaving the flat and that he got a normal response from her both times.

However, when he returned around midday Clive found Evelyn unresponsive in her bedroom.

Detective sergeant Adam Aggas said Dorset Police launched an investigation into the controlled drug vendor Evelyn had used, and tracked the parcel to the Thames Valley area.

However, Thames Valley Police closed the investigation in October 2023 after no suspects were identified.

Pathologist, Dr Simon Rasbridge, completed a post-mortem examination but found no medical causes of Evelyn’s death, externally or internally.

A toxicology report found no evidence of alcohol or drugs in her system.

However, it is now believed Evelyn was suffering from Long QT Syndrome, a heart problem, which can prove fatal.

Area coroner for Dorset, Brendan Allen, concluded that Evelyn died from natural causes although a precise cause of death is unascertained.

Evelyn’s family said she is ‘badly missed’ and they have been raising money for Young Minds, a charity helping distressed young people.