A WIDOWED mum who "lived life to the full" tragically drowned while taking a bath, an inquest heard.

Carole Anne Abraham, 48, of Peel Park Avenue, Accrington, went to visit her friend Stuart Jones on Manchester Road, Haslingden, on 2 December last year.

The inquest was told that Mrs Abraham was in a state of exhaustion and deep distress following an incident the previous day, when her teenage son had assaulted both her and Mr Jones at her house.

Mrs Abraham suffered extensive brui-sing to her arms and Mr Jones was treated in hospital for facial cuts.

Mr Jones said: "When she arrived at my house she said she was hurting all over and was very upset and crying. She felt guilty about the assault.

"She had had a few drinks and we bought a bottle of Scotch but she was freezing cold and shivering badly, which is why I suggested a hot bath to relax her.

"I can't really remember how long she was in there but the water was losing temperature so I let some out and put more hot water in as I thought she had fallen asleep.

"I made sure she was comfortable with her head propped up and stayed with her apart from when I left the room for a few seconds."

When he could not find a pulse he dialled 999 and tried to resuscitate her but neither he nor paramedics could revive her and she was pronounced dead at Fairfield General Hospital in Bury.

Consultant forensic pathologist Dr John Rutherford told the court that, although the post-mortem showed external bruising, frothy fluid found in Mrs Abraham's main airways and lungs indicated that she died of drowning.

He believed that her state of exhaustion and nervous tension, plus the alcohol she had consumed, had suppressed her normal reflexes, causing her to inhale some water.

Dr Rutherford said: "Half a cupful of water can be sufficient to cause drowning.

"You do not have to have lungs full of water."

East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor returned a verdict of accidental death.

Mrs Abraham's husband died unexpectedly last September.