A 37-year-old mother and midwife died after taking painkillers for chronic back pain, a coroner's court has concluded. Amie Barnes was discovered by her partner at their home in Thornton-Cleveleys, Lancashire.
The Tragic Discovery
Amie Barnes spent the evening of Monday, 25 July, sharing a bottle of wine and a takeaway with her partner, Jack. The following morning, he left for work after saying goodbye. Upon his return, he made the tragic discovery of Ms Barnes lying face down.
Emergency services were called to the address. The scene was initially treated as suspicious due to the presence of what appeared to be a facial injury and blood on her mouth. However, investigators later established these marks were caused by liquid pooling in a crevice as she slept with her vape underneath her.
Investigation and Medical Findings
A post-mortem CT scan found no natural cause of death. Subsequent toxicology tests revealed the midwife, who worked at hospitals in Blackpool and Preston, had taken several painkillers. There was also a very small amount of alcohol in her system.
At the inquest at Preston Coroners' Court, Assistant Coroner Richard Taylor stated that while individual painkillers would not have caused death, 'the concomitant use may have caused significant sedation' which likely resulted in her passing. Her GP confirmed Ms Barnes had been prescribed various painkillers to manage chronic back pain while awaiting spinal surgery at Salford Royal Hospital.
Detective Sergeant Jamie Robinson from Blackpool Police confirmed officers had ruled out any third-party involvement in the death.
A Life Remembered and a Conclusion of Misadventure
The coroner returned a conclusion of misadventure. He explained that her death was the 'unintended consequence of an intended act', likely involving taking painkillers while in pain, possibly combined with alcohol.
Following her death, friends arranged for Blackpool Tower to be lit in her favourite colour, pink, on 9 September. A friend, Olivia Drinkwater, described Amie as 'so lovely, one of the kind-hearted people who everyone warmed to'.
Amie Barnes, a bereavement midwife, leaves behind three children aged 19, 12, and seven. Her funeral was held at Carleton Crematorium on 15 August.
