A narrative verdict was recorded at the inquest of Jonquil Tante-Hughes, 66, who died at Doneraile Residential Home, Newton Abbot, on January 20. The cause of Mrs Tante-Hughes' death was a fall down the main stairs at the residential home in College Road a week before her death. This fractured her pelvis, causing a blot clot which travelled to her lungs and killed her. Coroner Ian Arrow explained that the narrative, or descriptive, verdict was brought because it was unclear how Mrs Tante-Hughes, a retired social worker, came to fall down the stairs. It could not definitely be called either an accident or a deliberate attempt to self-harm: the cause of the fall was unknown. Deborah Jary, assistant manager of Doneraile, said Mrs Tante-Hughes had arrived at the home in June 2005. She was not outgoing, preferring to keep herself to herself. Her mental state deteriorated, Ms Jary said, and she became paranoid, and obsessive about wanting to die. On January 11, Mrs Tante-Hughes was found at the bottom of the stairs by two members of staff who had heard the noise of her fall. Her shoes were found 'left neatly' at the top of the stairs. Ms Jary told the coroner: 'It looked as if the shoes were deliberately removed.' Dr Dunn gave evidence that although Mrs Tante-Hughes had suffered significant mental health problems, especially during the years she lived in Malta, she had no suicidal thoughts when he saw her in September 2005, and she insisted to him that the fall down the stairs was accidental when he saw her after this event. Mrs Tante-Hughes' brother, Ian Francis, of Moretonhampsted, said his sister had been intermittently in psychiatric care for the last 45 years of her life. He described his sister's state as 'pretty grim, severe both physically and mentally'. He had brought his sister back to England in February 2005 after the hospital staff in Malta had said that her problems were exacerbated by her marital relationship. Initially, Mrs Tante-Hughes stayed with her brother in Moretonhampsted, but her mood altered and she was admitted to Brunel Lodge after a suicide attempt. Her brother visited weekly and her condition improved sufficiently for her to be transferred to Doneraile, in June. The court heard a statement from PC David Salisbury, of Newton Abbot, who was notified of an unexpected death at Doneraile on January 20. He went to the home and saw Mrs Tante-Hughes, who was declared dead at 9.55am. Her body, dressed in nightclothes, was on the floor in Room 22, between the bed and the door. Ambulance staff had tried, unsuccessfully, to resuscitate her. There was bruising down the right side of her body, which PC Salisbury was told was due to a fall down stairs a week before. She had been admitted to Torbay Hospital on this occasion, and had been discharged with painkillers and a walking frame. After her death, PC Salisbury was told that staff had found a bag of tablets not prescribed to Mrs Tante-Hughes hidden in her room. He collected the tablets and delivered them to the coroner. At the post mortem, it was ascertained that Mrs Tante-Hughes died from a pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis caused by a fractured pelvis. Coroner Mr Arrow, expressed his condolences to Mr Francis, and said he was sure his sister was sadly missed.