AN open verdict was last week recorded at an inquest into the death of a 20-year-old Bere Alston woman, whose body was found by the railway line beneath Furzehill Bridge near the village last summer. Coroner Dr Elizabeth Earland heard that Alison Anderson, a care worker, had been drinking alcohol during a period of some 12 hours before her death. The inquest at Tavistock heard Miss Anderson met Bere Alston man Nicholas Westwood and his son Alan at the Victoria Social Club in Bere Alston during the afternoon of June 11. They visited licensed premises in Calstock and Tavistock during the afternoon and evening, before Mr Westwood drove her home at about 2.45am. Both Mr Westwood and his son said Miss Anderson had been happy, having enjoyed a good day out, although a neighbour, whom the three visited before taking Miss Anderson home, said she seemed ?very depressed?. Miss Anderson?s mother, also called Alison, told the court her daughter left the house and she believed she had gone to a friend?s home. Mrs Anderson told the coroner her daughter was drunk but was steady on her feet. The inquest heard Miss Anderson?s body was found by railway employees during the morning of Saturday June 12. A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death as multiple injuries ? a toxicology report showed she had 346 milligrammes of alcohol per 100ml of blood ? more than four times the legal drink-drive limit. In recording her verdict, Dr Earland said she was satisfied alcohol was a factor in Miss Anderson?s death. ?I am not satisfied she intended to kill herself by falling from this bridge ? neither am I able to come to the conclusion that it was accidental. Accordingly, I am returning an open verdict. I extend my extreme sympathies to those who loved her,? she said. After the inquest, Mrs Anderson described her daughter?s death as a tragedy. She said: ?Alison was really a marvellous girl, much loved and missed. She was a lovely daughter, best friend and sister ? everyone fell in love with her as soon as they met her.?
