Court rules woman who walked into sea committed suicide

60-year-old Cathy Pridham went missing in March after driving to Niarbyl beach in the middle of the night.

 

A search of the beach recovered her slippers and dressing gown and a combination of codeine based tablets in her car - her body has never been recovered.

 

The former science teacher had recently discovered she had secondary cancer, having already beaten breast cancer in the past six years.

 

The cancer had infected her bones, and potentially her brain, with doctors delivering a terminal prognosis.

 

Giving evidence at the inquest her husband said he and his wife engaged in theoretical conversations about assisted dying - subsequent police searches of the family computer also revealed she had visited a number of sites which covered the topic. 

 

The court heard she was very anxious about the development of her illness and had been withdrawn in the days leading to her disappearance.

 

Coroner of Inquests John Needham determined that she had committed suicide and died from salt water drowning.

 

Concluding proceedings he described Mrs Pridham as a well-respected valuable member of the community, and passed on his sincere condolences to her family.