AN INQUEST has heard the tragic case of a couple who were found dead in a paddling pool in a back garden.

Michelle Slater, 44, and partner Jason Bentham were discovered in the pool on the afternoon of Friday, May 8 after police were called to an address on Parbold Avenue in Blackbrook, a hearing was told.

An inquest into the death of Ms Slater took place today at Bootle Town Hall (Thursday, October 22) while the hearing into Mr Bentham's death was adjourned until next week.

Michelle, a mum-of-three, was described as a loving grandma-of-four in tributes that followed the tragedy.

The inquest was told that Ms Slater had been drinking alcohol the night before and had gone into the pool with her partner, which had hot water running into it from a hosepipe from the kitchen.

Coroner's officer Clair Sajewicz told the inquest police received a call at 2pm the next day, with the caller stating they could see the body of a man in a paddling pool.

After entering the back garden, officers found the bodies of Mr Bentham and Ms Slater.

The coroner's officer added a post-mortem examination found "no significant external injuries and there was "no sign of drowning".

Ms Sajewicz said the findings added that "having consumed Diazepam tablets and drinking alcohol she (Ms Slater) was severely intoxicated and incapacitated lying in a pool".

The cause of death was given as "immersion hypothermia and acute alcohol consumption".

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Senior coroner Julie Goulding delivered a 'narrative verdict', a brief free-form conclusion, rather than a one-word verdict, saying this would be the "best summary of the circumstances" that led to the tragedy.

Ms Goulding said: "Michelle Slater died of a medical cause of death of immersion hypothermia and acute intoxication and Diazepam consumption.

"Michelle and her partner had been drinking during the evening as well as spending time in the paddling swimming pool where both bodies were discovered.

"Police were satisfied there was no third party involvement in their tragic death.

"My conclusion is a narrative conclusion. It is more appropriate that is is a narrative conclusion, that will be the best summary of the circumstances that tragically led to the loss of life for the two individuals."

In a touching tribute after Michelle's passing, her daughter-in-law Ashley Slater, from Moss Bank, said her death was "a huge shock to the family".

She added: "Michelle was a loving grandma, who was always kind and welcoming and very unique but in the nicest and best possible way.

"She was a very big part of the family and was also very close to her two dogs Katie and Nell.

"It is so hard to think that she is not here any more.

"It's very hard, but we will never forget Michelle. She was a kind and loving person and she will be missed."

An inquest into Mr Bentham's passing will take place next Thursday (October 29).