A HAMPSHIRE mother-of-three died of complications caused by excessive drinking, an inquest heard.

Housewife Jagjeet Singh from Southampton was found by her husband of 14 years struggling to breath and later died at Southampton General Hospital.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard that the 34-year-old, of Steuart Road in Bitterne, had a history of alcohol misuse and had experienced periods of depression following the death of her sister.

The inquest was told Mrs Singh had consumed a bottle of whisky on December 24 last year, and the delayed effect of this led to her death on December 27.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said Mrs Singh died from aspiration of stomach content.

He said that excessive alcohol consumption can suppress the cough or gag reflex, and that the resulting inhalation of stomach content causes fatal inflammation and bleeding in the lungs.

He added that it was something that would happen over a period of hours.

Deputy coroner for central Hampshire Simon Burge said: “It serves as a warning to others who may be tempted to binge drink that sometimes the consequences can be tragic,” he said.

He recorded a verdict of misadventure.