Tragic death of a 35-year-old woman from Stratford after a fall while on holiday in Ireland

A 35-YEAR-OLD woman from Stratford suffered fatal head injuries when she fell down the stairs of an AirBnb after getting out of bed to check on a crying child.

An inquest heard on Monday (October 7) that Jessie Lawrence, of Orchard Way, had been holidaying with her family in Cong, a village in County Mayo, Ireland, in August when the accident occurred.

Ms Lawrence, who was taken to Mayo University Hospital (MUH), fell down the stairs of accommodation where she and her partner Graeme Toney and their two daughters, aged four and six, were staying.

Garda Pat Coen told the inquest that Mrs Lawrence sadly died in intensive care at the MUH on August 18 after falling a few days earlier.

Garda Coen said Mr Toney told him one of the children had cried during the night. He heard a scream and the sound of a “fall” down the stairs. Ms. Lawrence was found at the bottom of the stairs.

The cause of death was given by Dr. Tamas Nemeth, who conducted an autopsy, diagnosed a brain herniation due to traumatic brain injury.

In a statement to gardai (police) after the tragedy, Mr Toney said: “I heard the creaking of the banisters and the pounding on the stairs, that really woke me up.”

He added that Ms Lawrence, a former pupil of St Benedict’s School, was lying at the bottom of the stairs and called 999.

Following the death, gardai carried out a comprehensive investigation of the property where the fall occurred and found no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement, the inquest heard.

The court heard that several of Ms Lawrence’s organs – her liver and kidneys – were donated to help others.

After returning a verdict of accidental death, coroner Pat O’Connor noted the organ donation and said it was a very noble gesture on the part of the deceased’s family.

He said: “It is one of the noblest things a family can agree on,” adding: “Words cannot express the concern and trauma of the partner, their children and other family members.”

Ms Lawrence, who worked at St Basil’s in Leamington, a charity and housing association that provides accommodation and support services to young people, was described as “the perfect combination of gentleness and compassion”.