A MUM tragically died from taking cocaine – and a coroner was unable to decide whether her death was an accident or suicide.

Holly Sale, 35, passed away at her home in Westcliff last July, an inquest heard.

Her unexpected death was one of six between July 28 and 30 in the Westcliff, Leigh, Benfleet and Canvey areas initially treated as linked by Essex Police.

Due to the closeness of the deaths, in both time and proximity, it was feared a dodgy batch of the Class A drugs was going around.

However, following toxicology reports, it was later revealed there was no scientific evidence linking the deaths.

Yesterday, the inquest at Essex Coroner’s Court revealed, she had been in good spirits before her death.

Senior Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray stated that she was not satisfied there was enough evidence to say if Ms Sale’s death was a suicide or an accident, and chose to record an open conclusion.

Addressing the family, she said: “There is nothing ominous about an open conclusion. We do not quite know what was going through her mind. One or two pieces of the jigsaw are missing.”

At the inquest, coroner’s officer Gemma Cook said: “Holly was found by her landlord unresponsive in her bed. Paramedics attended and death was confirmed. Essex Police attended and said there were no suspicious circumstances.

“A post-mortem examination was carried out at Southend Hospital.

“A cause of death was identified as 1A cocaine toxicity.”

Det Sgt Paul Bird, of the Rayleigh Major Investigation Team, said: “There was no evidence of third party involvement. There were no injuries that were consistent with that.

“There were no suspicious circumstances or any other areas I am aware of. There were no signs of a disturbance.”

Members of Ms Sale’s family attended the inquest, where they said they would be “very surprised” if her death was deliberate and believed it was an accident.

She was said to have been happy at the time, and “wanted to turn her life around”.