Gwynedd former care home manager found dead on beach took four times deadly dose of pills

A woman whose body was discovered on a beach had taken four times as many sleeping pills as could kill someone.

Wendy Balaam from Pontllyfni in Gwynedd, had been reported missing when she was found on North Parade in Llandudno on December 7 last year.

The 62-year-old’s disappearance prompted a search by emergency services and the coastguard before she was found by holiday makers.

An inquest into Ms Balaam’s death, held at Llandudno Town Hall this morning, heard the former home care manager had left a suicide note at home.

She’d been suffering from various health problems and “wasn’t in good health,” the hearing was told.

Ian Burton from Bristol, who was holidaying in the seaside resort with his wife said they had been walking along the jetty opposite Llandudno Sailing Club when he spotted what he first thought was a sleeping bag.

But on closer inspection, he realised it was a woman.

Body of missing Gwynedd woman Wendy Balaam found on Llandudno beach

Ian Burton, who was staying at the Bay Marine Hotel, said: “As the weather was quite nice and dry we went for a walk along the promenade, and went on a slipway opposite the local sailing club.

“Half way done we saw what looked like a sleeping bag, at first we thought somebody was sleeping rough.

“But on closer inspection we realised it was a body facing down on the floor.

“There was no response when I tried to speak to her and could find no pulse, and she felt cold to the touch.”

The couple phoned the emergency services, and Mr Burton tried in vain to find a pulse and conducted CPR on Mrs Balaam but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem carried out by Dr Andrew Dalton showed there was no evidence Mrs Balaam had drowned as there was no water in her lungs.

Dog walker tried in vain to revive Gwynedd woman on Llandudno beach, inquest hears

Toxiology results revealed she had taken 50 times over the therapeutic range of sleeping tablets – four times over the fatal overdose.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, Nicola Jones, assistant coroner for North Wales east and central addressed Mrs Ballam’s family and said: “If there’s any positives you can take out of this is at least there were people about who were willing to help.

“It wasn’t possible to save her life but they tried their best.”