A woman from Borehamwood who had 'ups and downs' died from taking an insulin overdose, an inquest heard today.

Maria McPherson, 34, originally from Essex but lived in Norfolk Gardens in Borehamwood, died of an insulin overdose on June 16, 2015.

Hatfield Coroners Court today heard a statement from a close friend of Mrs McPherson, Jeffrey Hewitt.

Mr Hewitt, of Stanborough Avenue, Borehamwood, said: “I am so upset she is gone.

“I keep asking myself if I could have done more to help her. I miss her terribly.

“I met Maria about five to six years ago when I helped her husband, Macolm, fix a car.

“We became good friends and she would often come to mine if she needed to talk. Both Maria and Malcom used drugs.

“Maria wasn’t a strong person and relied on alcohol and drugs. They would have fights often. When Malcom left Maria she went downhill from there.”

According to Mr Hewitt, Mrs McPherson had a daughter but after her husband left she would often take her daughter out with her when she drank or would leave her with a friend.

When her daughter was two, social services took her away and according Mr Hewitt, Maria broke down.

He said: “She would often look after her daughter but it became too much for her and social services took her away.

“She would come stay at mine when she was felt things were too upsetting. I encouraged her to try and get off the alcohol and drugs.

“When she stayed at mine I would feed her and look after her. I could tell that she had a heavy weekend.

“After staying with me, she would look like her normal self again.”

Mr Hewitt’s statement revealed that in August 2014 Mrs McPherson had to move to a one bedroom flat because of money.

In June 2015, Mrs McPherson went to a doctor who put her on anxiety medication and on June 10 she contact Mr Hewitt telling him that she was on for a good weekend in Bushey with her friends.

According to Mr Hewitt he didn’t hear anything from her until June 13 when he asked if she was home yet to which she told him that she would be back on Sunday June 14.

Mr Hewitt said: “On Monday June 15, she told me that she had a bad weekend and said that she should have taken my advice.

“I went round to her flat and saw three insulin pens in the kitchen. This is what she meant by a bad weekend.

“She said she had taken the insulin to get high. I told her it was very dangerous to take it when not diabetic.

“She then broke down and said that she knew.”

Mrs McPherson stayed at Mr Hewitt’s flat that evening the court heard.

At around 9am on June 16, Mr Hewitt made her coffee in bed and according to his statement, she said that she was feeling better but still tired.

At 12.20pm Mr Hewitt went back into the room and saw she was sleeping but her breathing sounded like snoring, the court heard.

He said: “I took her pulse and called the ambulance where they told me to check her pulse.

“I pulled her out of the bed and checked her pulse. Now she was not breathing.

“I performed CPR as they told me to on the phone and then ambulance came and took over.”

According to the court, paramedic Paul Jones arrived at the flat in Stanborough Avenue but at 3.36pm her death was recorded.

At the inquest, detective constable Teixeira was also present who said that there was nothing suspicious surrounding her death and that insulin pens were found in her flat.

Mr Sullivan concluded the inquest by stating the cause of death was insulin overdose.

He said: “I am satisfied with the cause of death. It was not intentional but she took the insulin to get high.

“It was a very sad accident.”