Isabella Blow Inquest

Inquest told Isabella Blow died from drinking weed killer

An inquest into the death of fashion stylist Isabella Blow has revealed that she killed herself by drinking half a pint of weedkiller, and that her death followed four previous suicide attempts.

The inquest heard that Blow had been suffering from depression for over five years and that she had become concerned with her waning celebrity status. She was also battling ovarian cancer, and feared impending surgery.

Her sister Lavinia Verney discovered Isabella being sick at home in Gloucester on 5 May. She died two days later, aged 48, after taking a lethal dose of Paraquat. Her father-in-law had killed himself in the same way.

Mrs Verney told the inquest: 'The nurse said she was going to die, but that she might live for a couple of weeks longer. Isabella was quite at peace with the news, and was tired and sleepy. We found out that she had got the poison from a farming shop.'

Consultant psychiatrist, Dr Ian Pennell told the inquest that Blow was finding it hard to cope with changes in her life. He commented: 'She had a perception of a waning career with attendant uncertainties about how she would support herself in the future.'

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.