Eva Rausing death caused by cocaine overdose, coroner finds

By DAVID MERCER
Published on 14/12/2012 23:41

Eva Rausing, one of Britain’s richest women, died as a result of cocaine abuse, a coroner has ruled.

• Post-mortem found Eva Rausing had died on May 7 and had drugs in her system, including cocaine

• Coroner found Mrs Rausing died as a result of cocaine intoxication contributed to by a heart condition

• Couple had fought a public battle against addiction to drugs

The 48-year-old’s body lay undiscovered for two months at the five-storey west London home she shared with husband Hans, heir to the Tetra Pak fortune. She was found in a fly-filled room hidden under a pile of bedding with a foil pipe in her hand, Westminster Coroner’s Court heard.

Police discovered the mother of four’s body in an advanced state of decomposition after arresting Rausing on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on 9 July. A post-mortem examination suggested she had died on 7 May and had drugs in her system, including cocaine.

Mr Rausing, who was too unwell to attend the inquest, said in a written statement he had been left devastated by the death of his “beloved wife”.

He explained how he discovered Mrs Rausing after hearing her slide off the bed while he was shaving in the bathroom.

Mr Rausing said he could see his wife’s eyes dim before covering her lifeless body with duvets and bedding. In his statement, the multi-millionaire said that, in hindsight, he had not acted “rationally”, adding: “I could not cope with her dying or confront the reality of her death.”