Southend woman's sudden death a mystery after inquest

Loveness Mkochi, of Hastings Road, Southend, was found deceased at her property on May 31, 2022, by a friend after he climbed through her window after growing concerned about her.

In the days prior, she had told him that she felt unwell and he had struggled to contact her since.

Police ruled out any foul play after consulting with paramedics who attended, and an inquest into Loveness’ death yesterday, at Chelmsford Coroner’s Court, was unable to find any direct cause of her death.

Dr Simon Payne, consultant pathologist at Southend Hospital, conducted the autopsy.

He said: “I examined Loveness’ organs including her brain, heart, and lungs and found nothing unusual.

“Effectively I could only conclude at the time a negative autopsy as I couldn’t find a cause of death.

“Statistically in two per cent of deaths we do not conclude a robust cause of death, that’s my experience in 30 years of doing autopsies.”

Loveness, a care assistant, was last seen by on May 25 and was last seen alive on May 28.

She had underlying conditions including anaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea and had a seizure on May 11, 2021, caused by pneumonia.

Loveness was also identified to have shortness of breath the morning of her death.

Dr Jamil Sourouji, general practitioner at Queensway Surgery, added: “In terms of Loveness’ anaemia, a reasonable haemoglobin level would be 115 at the lower range.

“At one point in September 2020, Loveness recorded a 60 haemoglobin level which was indicative of chronic pneumonia.

“Loveness also had a substantial weight gain in a short period of time going from 96 kilograms in March 2022 to 121 kilograms at the time of her death.”

Area coroner Sonia Hayes agreed with Dr Payne on Loveness’ cause of death.

She said: “Unfortunately there seems to be no illnesses, disease, or trauma leading me to a cause of death.

“It is my deepest regret that I will have to come to an open conclusion.”