An elderly woman who refused to put her heating on due to fears over high energy bills died after she was found slumped in her home suffering from profound hypothermia, a coroner has heard. Barbara Bolton, 87, was supported by a caring, extended family but was stubborn and ignored their pleas to put the heating on at her terraced house.
The inquest heard how Mrs Bolton was discovered by her grandson at her kitchen table unable to speak on December 11, 2022. Medics found she had a body temperature of just 28C - a normal body temperature is 37C.
She was taken to hospital but died of pneumonia brought on by hypothermia on January 5. The inquest heard that her family had encouraged her to put her heating on and told her not to worry about the bills but she would not listen.
