Key Points:
- Daiva Antanaviciene, 57, was found dead at her home in a house of multiple occupation (HMO) on Listowel Road, Dagenham.
- Her body was discovered on 13 October 2023 by a maintenance man.
- Rigor mortis and hypostasis had already set in, suggesting she had been dead for some time.
- Toxicology tests revealed alcohol levels of over 400mg per 100ml in her blood—well above fatal levels.
- Police and paramedics found the room full of empty spirit bottles.
- Coroner Nadia Persaud ruled her death as caused by acute alcohol toxicity, leading to coma and respiratory depression.
- Ms Antanaviciene was known to be a heavy drinker and had a history of alcohol dependence and seizures.
- She had not been seen by other residents since 9 October 2023.
A woman who died from acute alcohol poisoning may have been lying dead in her bed for days before she was discovered, an inquest at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow has heard.
What were the circumstances surrounding Daiva Antanaviciene’s death?
As reported by Charles Thomson of Ham & High, 57-year-old Daiva Antanaviciene was found unresponsive in her bed by maintenance worker Vaidas Petkevicius at her home in a shared house on Listowel Road, Dagenham. Petkevicius, who had helped her secure the room in the HMO after a friend’s introduction, said he checked on her the morning of 13 October because he knew she “drinks a lot.”
“I went upstairs to check on Daiva as I know she drinks a lot,” he wrote in his statement. “She was sitting on the bed. She was not moving and her face had changed colour. I called her twice but she did not reply.”
He phoned the London Ambulance Service at 11:05am. Paramedics arrived within five minutes but confirmed she was already dead. Rigor mortis and hypostasis had set in, indicating she had died some time before discovery.
What did the police and forensic reports reveal?
As reported by Charles Thomson of Ham & High, Sergeant Burak Guven stated in his written testimony that Metropolitan Police officers were called to the property and noted Ms Antanaviciene had not been seen since 9 October by other HMO residents. Upon arrival, police found her “slumped on her bed” in a room littered with alcohol containers.
“There were lots of empty spirit bottles… including a plastic bag which was full of empty glass alcohol bottles,” Sgt Guven noted.
Toxicology tests found 412 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood and 474 milligrams in her vitreous humour—both well above the legal driving limit of 80 milligrams. Coroner Nadia Persaud stated that levels above 400 are “associated with fatalities.”
What was the official cause of death?
Pathologist Dr Vasi Sundaresan, who carried out the post-mortem, reported a “strong smell of alcohol” on opening her abdomen and noted a history of alcohol dependence and seizures, the most recent recorded in 2023.
He found her heart to be significantly enlarged, further indicating long-term alcohol misuse. Dr Sundaresan concluded that her death was caused by coma and respiratory depression due to acute alcohol toxicity.
What was the court’s final ruling?
Coroner Nadia Persaud ruled the death to be alcohol-related and expressed her condolences. As reported by Charles Thomson of Ham & High, Mrs Persaud said:
“I would like to thank all of those who have provided evidence to assist the court and I would like to pass on the sympathies of the court, particularly to her son.”
The court did not hear any direct statements from the deceased’s family members.
