Body of 'brilliant mother', 26, was found topless and submerged in pool of icy water after she fell from fence on her way to buy more booze during drinking session, inquest hears

The body of a 'academically brilliant' mother was found topless and submerged in a pool of icy water after she fell while drunk, an inquest has heard.

Hedwig Taaru, 26, died of hypothermia after she fell from a fence following a drinking session at her home in Purley-on-Thames in Reading, Berkshire, in March last year.

Ms Taaru's body was found by a dogwalker in a water-clogged field by the River Thames the next morning and she was declared dead at 9am on March 7, 2020.

Just 12 hours before the grim discovery Ms Taaru had been socialising with her sister-in-law Neema Kamonjo and showing her how she wanted to renovate her home.

The inquest heard Ms Taaru had revealed she previously attempted suicide as the pair spoke about the tragic death of TV presenter Caroline Flack.

But assistant Berkshire coroner Ian Wade QC categorically ruled out Ms Taaru's death as suicide, confirming instead that it was a tragic accident.

Ms Kamonjo said: 'One of the things I remember talking about was Caroline Flack, who had died on February 15. We both agreed that you wouldn't think that someone who had it all might be deeply struggling.

Hedwig Taaru , 26, died of hypothermia after she fell from a fence following a drinking session at her home in Purley-on-Thames in Reading, Berkshire, in March last year

'She admitted that she had attempted to commit suicide and I acted like I did not know and I told her I was always there if she wanted to talk.'

Mr Wade described Ms Taaru as being 'very drunk' on the night she died, with reports finding she was three-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit. 

He said: 'On the evening of March 6, 2020, she indulged in a drinking binge - she was very drunk. It appears that she wandered towards the river, she had spoken about throwing herself into the river.

'She walked away from the river but sadly she was not able to get back across the muddy flood-drenched field back to her home. I am satisfied that was all she was trying to do, she was intending to go back home.'

He said Ms Taaru made it back as far as a barbed wire fence and tried to climb it but was unsuccessful.   

'Unfortunately she fell backwards into the mud. In her state she was not able to take the steps to save herself,' he added.

'In the confusion lying in the shallow pool of water was enough to cause her to remain immobile but in effect lying in that cold, muddy water overnight was the cause of her death.

Mr Wade described Ms Taaru as being 'very drunk' on the night she died, with reports finding she was three-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit

'I am satisfied that was inadvertently unplanned, I do not believe that Hedwig appreciated the danger she was in despite being ferociously bright. I believe that what happened was an appalling accident.'

Ms Taaru gained three A's and a B in her A levels and nine A's out of her 12 GCSE's before graduating in law from university. She went on to pass a course that allowed her to work in a hospital operating theatre.

During her time at university Ms Taaru had her son Isaiah. After she started binge drinking Isaiah was taken away to live with his grand-mother in July 2019, the inquest heard. 

Mr Wade said: 'Hedwig was a very intelligent young woman, she had an excellent academic record and had achieved a lot. However, in 2016 while still at university she gave birth to her son Isaiah.

'I find from the evidence she quite palpably loved Isaiah very much. She impressed the relevant professionals who had to become involved in her relationship with Isaiah, it was quite clear that Isaiah adored his mother.

'The pressure was too much for Hedwig and Isaiah was about four months old when while she was at university she was starting to drink to excess and she lost her driving licence.'

In the days leading up to her death, Ms Taaru messaged Ms Kamonjo to say she had gone through an abortion.

She asked her sister-in-law to keep it a secret. In a post-mortem examination, a pathologist revealed she was not pregnant and had never terminated a pregnancy.

Senior psychologist Claire Crawford told the inquest in Reading, Berks.: 'I have thought about this, I wondered whether there was something about being pregnant that seemed positive in order to get the care and attention that comes with it. I have certainly wondered if it was a fantasy for her, but that is pure speculation.'

The inquest heard how just hours after spending time with her sister-in-law, the young woman indulged in a drinking session.

The investigating police officer said: 'The field was incredibly difficult to cross, it was a quagmire of mud and due to alcohol and the cold her condition was deteriorating. She has ended up on the ground, hypothermia would explain why her clothing was removed.'

The coroner heard a dog walker was strolling back to his home nearby when he discovered Ms Taaru's body.

The neighbour said: 'Her patterned trousers were torn, her hair was bunched up, she was covered in mud and I did notice her eyes were open and glazed. I thought she was a 15-year-old girl. Next to her was a top and a set of keys. That was when I realised she was not wearing a top.'

In a nearby field the young mother's new iPhone and AirPods were found placed on a grey Primark fluffy jumper in front of a 'water filled dip'. 

The coroner heard Ms Taaru's iPhone screensaver was a picture of her three-year-old son Isaiah wearing a suit. 

Concluding an accidental death verdict, Mr Wade said: 'Hedwig died where she was found. She was covered in mud and she was found half clothed. The medical cause of death was hypothermia while experiencing alcohol intoxication..'