Mum drowned at Morecambe beach after moonlight swim

A mum-of-one has drowned after going for a swim at the beach following a night out in Morecambe.

Susan Alston, 51, was found dead on the beach near the clock tower in Morecambe by a man cycling to work in August, reports the BBC.

An inquest this week heard how she was due to take her 12-year-old son on holiday the following week.

She had enjoyed a night out with a friend, Ann Hindmarsh, in local pubs before she died.

Ms Hindmarch told the inquest she had decided to go home but Ms Alston was happy to stay.

Det Supt Neil Esseen, who investigated Susan's death, told the coroner he could not explain why Susan went on the beach.

According to the Lancashire Evening Post, he said: "There was no indication of suicide, she was due to go on holiday the week after her death and was devoted to her son. She must have gone into the water very close to high tide, which was at 1.50am.

"She collapsed for some reason and drowned in a relatively small amount of water."

Deputy Coroner Simon Jones recorded a verdict of accidental death by drowning. He said: "Susan had had a considerable amount to drink, nine or 10 whiskeys over the course of the evening.

"What we don't know is why she did what she did. She was seen sitting on the promenade and that is the last time she is seen alive.

"She has then made her way onto the beach, quite possibly with the intention of going for a swim by moonlight and she has then collapsed due to some sort of medical event.

"She was only there for a comparatively short period and the tide is low but this was sufficient to cause her to drown."

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