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Heidi Hopley, 41 years old, was having drinks at her home one evening with her partner, Scott Fisher. After a few glasses of vodka mixed with lemonade, Fisher went upstairs to sleep for the night. Hopley, on the other hand, said that she was just going to hang outside and smoke a cigarette.
When Fisher woke up in the morning, he found himself alone in the bed, the Metro reports.
Fisher found Hopley, who’s a therapist for disabled children, collapsed outside with a lighter in one hand and an unlit cigarette in the other.
According to Metro, Hopley, who’s a mom to 13-year-old Billy Jo, wasn’t really a heavy drinker. Hopley died of alcohol poisoning. Hopley’s autopsy revealed that she had 380mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
According to Senior Somerset Coroner Tony Williams, the verdict was accidental death. He said, “For some reason, the alcohol she drank that night resulted in her death. There were no suspicious circumstances at all.”
During the inquest, Hopley hung out with friends and family at Bridgewater Fair before she went back home in North Petherton in Somerset around 10PM. Hopley and Fisher had three shots of vodka with lemonade.
Fisher called the ambulance immediately after he found her. It was revealed that Hopley had a history of high blood pressure.
Hopley worked at the Brainwave Center as a physical therapist for “children with a range of disabilities, including cerebral palsy and genetic disorders,” according to Metro.
Although she stayed employed by the center for almost all of her career life, Hopley also helped in starting clinics in Japan, Finland, Scotland, and Ireland.
The Center’s chief executive Phil Edge said, “The best tribute that can be paid is from the centre. She was extremely dear to them and they’re absolutely devastated – they can’t believe it.”
Edge continued, “They called her the kindest girl they have ever worked with and said that she was completely dedicated to the children and families she worked with – they were always at the forefront of her mind.”
Edge also said that Hopley was an integral part of the organization.
66-year-old Martin Felstead, Hopley’s father, said, “She loved the area and the village – she’s lived here most of her life and she dedicated all her working life to Brainwave.”
Hopley’s family and friends were taken back by her immediate death. Her step-sister Steph Keohane said that Hopley was “the loveliest step-sister I could have wished for.”
