Clubber dies after 27 phone calls for help

A 25-year-old British woman died from hypothermia and alcohol intoxication after making 27 phone calls to friends an inquest has concluded.

The BBC website reports that Bernadette Lee, from Deal, had made several phone calls to friends before she died but the calls were not answered.

Her body was found at the front of a house next to her sister's home in -2C temperatures in January.

British media reports that Ms Lee was wearing a short dress and no shoes or coat when she died. She had been clubbing with a friend and had been due to stay with her but they became separated during the night.

Ms Lee made her way to her sister Jodie's house but her sister was not home.

The inquest heard that between 1.54am and 3.17am she had called her friend Cheryl Coley four times but Ms Coley later told police she had had a row with her partner and had been constantly on the phone during that time, the Daily Mail reported.

The newspaper said there was evidence Ms Lee had tried to call her dad Roger on his mobile but that was switched off. She had also tried to call 'numerous' other friends.

Ms Coley told police she had a 'special friendship' with Miss Lee who knew she could turn up at any time and stay.

Ms Lee's body was found by a dog walker at 7.50am on a lawn in Deal, Kent.

The North East Kent coroner heard she had a high level of alcohol in her body which would have put her at higher risk of hypothermia.

A post mortem showed there was no sign of any violence or injury to the body.

After the inquest Ms Lee's family, said her death could have been 'so easily avoided' and begged partygoers to take care in cold temperatures, the Daily Mail reported.