Tributes paid to “selfless” mum who died from fatal medication mix

Tuesday 20 August 2019

Warm tributes were paid to a “selfless” mother-of-four, who was remembered as stopping at nothing to help others, as an inquest ruled that she passed away from an accidental and fatal mix of medication.

Belinda Samantha Shales (54), who was previously Chair of the Royal British Legion, passed away suddenly on 26 April at the hospital’s Emergency Department.

Yesterday, an inquest, which saw numerous tributes paid to her altruistic character, was held to establish how and why the mother and grandmother, who was "loved by many", came by her death.

Held yesterday at Morier House, presiding Coroner Advocate Mark Harris heard that she had been found unresponsive at home in the early hours and that attempts to resuscitate her there and in hospital were sadly unsuccessful. 

The inquest heard that Belinda suffered from chronic pain, and had a history of exceeding the suggested dose of her medication, for which she sought help from the Drugs and Alcohol Service.

Pictured: The inquest hearing took place at Morier House.

This, it was explained, was caused by difficulties in her life which Belinda never sought professional help for. 

A post-mortem examination carried out by Dr Bruce Lyons found high levels of over-the-counter painkillers, as well as evidence of bronchopneumonia – an inflammation of the lungs that can cause coughing and breathing difficulties.

PC Glenn Cleave, the Assistant Police Coroner’s Officer, characterised Belinda’s death from a fatal mix of pharmacy-grade medication as a tragic accident, stating that there was no evidence that anything she did had been deliberate.  

One of Belinda's daughters explained in her statement that her mum was waiting for brain scan results for a dementia diagnosis at the time of her death, which she believed was a contributing factor in her mother exceeding the recommended dose of her medication.

Pictured: Belinda's family described her as "selfless person" who would stop at nothing to help others.

In a statement read to the inquest, Belinda’s partner remembered her as a “selfless person, who would do anything for anyone.”

“She never stopped, nothing was too much trouble for her,” he said, adding that her funeral had been very well-attended. 

Belinda's daughter said that whilst she had been signed off sick for the past two years, her mum had been doing things for people – even those who wouldn’t return the favour – to keep her mind off things. 

Among other activities, Belinda was the Chair of the Royal British Legion Club, where she was “highly thought of.”  

“She was loved by many people and is missed by all of us,” she later added. “I don’t think she realised how much she was loved by people. It’s very sad she died the way she did.”

In the weeks following Belinda's death, islanders donated £4,800 to help fund her funeral. 

Jack Townsend, who created the page at the time, described her as "an incredible woman and subsequently a mother to four incredible children" and "a very loving Nanny." 

Pictured: Belinda gave her time to working at the Royal British Legion, where the "highly thought of" islander was Chair.

"There are no words to describe the void left by her passing to her family and friends," he noted. "She was truly the matriarch of her family; a position that she cherished dearly. To her immediate family she was a rock and indeed a pillar of strength. To her friends, Belinda will always be remembered as the life of the party, the hostess-with-the-most-ess [sic], the Queen B with a heart of absolute gold."

In the end, Advocate Harris ruled that the much-loved mother and popular member of the community died due to “central nervous system depression” arising from the “combined toxicity” of the various medications she had taken, as well as the effects of bronchopneumonia.

He concluded the inquest by expressing his sympathies to Belinda’s family.