Winehouse poisoned by alcohol

Singer Amy Winehouse was more than five times over the British drink-drive limit when she died, an inquest heard yesterday, as a coroner delivered a verdict of death by misadventure.

The inquest heard that Ms Winehouse, 27, who was found dead at her London home on July 23 following years of alcohol and drug addiction, repeatedly ignored her doctor’s warnings about the effects of prolonged bouts of drinking.

The hearing in London was told that the Back to Black singer had suddenly drunk heavily after abstaining for three weeks and was poisoned by alcohol.

Police recovered three empty bottles of vodka, two large and one small, from her home.

Ms Winehouse had 416 milli-grammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood at the time of her death. The legal drink-drive limit is 80mg.

Coroner Suzanne Greenway said: “She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per deci-litre (of blood) and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death.”

Her father Mitch Winehouse has said that his daughter made repeated attempts to quit alcohol but without any medical supervision.

Her doctor, Christina Romete, said the singer’s behaviour just before her death fitted a pattern in which Ms Winehouse would abstain from alcohol for weeks on end only to hit the bottle again for weeks at a time.

Dr Romete said she had repeatedly warned the star of the dangers of her lifestyle.

“The advice I had given to Amy over a long period of time was verbal and in written form about all the effects alcohol can have on the system, including respiratory depression and death, heart problems, fertility problems and liver problems,” she said.

Ms Winehouse, who was taking medication to cope with alcohol withdrawal and anxiety, was assessed last year by a psychologist and psychiatrist about her drinking but “had her own views” about treatment.

“She had her own way and was very determined to do everything her own way,” said Dr Romete. “Including any form of therapy. She had very strict views.”

Ms Winehouse’s family issued a statement after the verdict, saying: “It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time. She had started drinking again that week after a period of abstinence.”

The family has set up a foundation in her name to help disadvantaged or disabled children.