Widow, 68, found dead on snowy moorland

A DEMENTIA sufferer whose snow-covered body was found on moorland in a Yorkshire national park died owing to the extreme weather conditions after she vanished from her home, an inquest heard.

Members of the local community, rangers from the North York Moors National Park and search and rescue teams were involved in the operation to find retired teacher Barbara Colling, of Feversham Road, Helmsley.

The inquest in Scarborough heard yesterday that her body was found by a gamekeeper on Hawnby Moor, near Helmsley, on February 13 after she went missing on January 28. North Yorkshire East Coroner, Michael Oakley, was told “on the balance of probabilities” she died from hypothermia owing to the weather.

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Paramedic Jason Boardman said clothing on Mrs Colling’s body was snow-covered, and she had a rucksack and was wearing walking gear. Ruth Sutcliffe, a carer, said Mrs Colling had lost her husband, a Leeds University lecturer, the previous year. Mrs Colling had not been at home when her carer called on January 28, but that was not unusual because she regularly went for walks.

“She had never gone missing previously when she went for walks and we had never had to go looking for her before,” the carer said.

Mental health nurse Alistair Barker, said Mrs Colling had been referred to him by her family doctor for assessment. He described her as “a very pleasant, shy lady”, adding: “The care she was being provided with was a wonderful package – it was very good.”

Mr Barker added: “Someone can wander off, and there is usually evidence they have done it in the past, but not in Mrs Colling’s case.”

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Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Oakley said the 68-year-old widow had gone out equipped for walking, and added: “She had not wandered off before otherwise steps would have been taken to ensure she didn’t do so.”

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