A 53-year-old woman who appeared on the BBC’s Escape to the Country with her partner in 2021 tragically died after struggling with alcoholism, an inquest has heard
An Escape to the Country star died after being rushed to hospital and vomiting blood, an inquest has heard.
The inquest into the death of Emma Izzard, 53, heard she died last November at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital (N&N). Ms Izzard had appeared on an episode of the BBC property programme in 2021 with her then partner Kym Lofthouse.
Emma was admitted to hospital on November 19 last year after she started vomiting blood. An inquest into Ms Izzard’s death at Norfolk Coroner Court this week revealed that she battled alcohol issues.
Ms Lofthouse told the hearing that her partner’s alcohol consumption had increased in July 2022 after her mother fell ill. She was taken to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by ambulance on November 19 last year after she started vomiting blood.
Ms Izzard died the following day after suffering cardiac arrest whilst undergoing a gastroscopy in the operating theatre, reports the Express. Her cause of death was an oesophageal and variceal bleed, the inquest heard, with alcohol-related liver disease.
Ms Lofthouse said: “Emma had a very strong bond with her mother. Emma lived with her for many years and continued to look after her even when she did move out. [Emma’s] alcohol levels increased when her mother was taken to hospital in July 2022, and she thought she was going to lose her.
“After six months of secret drinking, she wanted to stop but couldn’t get the help required quickly enough and began drinking again.”
The court heard Ms Izzard went to rehab on several occasions but relapses caused her drinking “to become heavier”. The hearing was also told that Ms Izzard’s father, who died when she was a teenager, also struggled with alcoholism.
Ms Lofthouse reportedly said in a statement: “Emma was a larger-than-life character who was very popular both in and outside of her work, and she had many friends.
According to The Eastern Daily Press, she added: “She was very caring but had had personal struggles earlier in her life that she was unable to deal with. Emma did not want to drink but it had taken a strong hold of her.”
Coroner Johanna Thompson concluded that Ms Izzard’s death was alcohol related and said she had a “history of excess alcohol consumption” and was also suffering from alcohol-related liver disease. The inquest also heard that Emma had symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal and could not be saved by treatment when she was admitted to the hospital.
Thompson said: “At the hospital, Emma was clearly presenting as very poorly. She was white, dehydrated, and was considered to have symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawal. Sadly, after being given surgery, treatment could not save her at the end of the day.”
Ms Izzard appeared on Escape to the Country in 2021 alongside her former partner. Host Ginny Buckley had been tasked with helping the couple, who lived near Luton in Bedfordshire, find their “perfect new life” in their Norfolk home.
They had opted to move to the county in search of “cleaner air” and a slower pace of life. The couple did eventually moved to North Walsham, but split.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
