A RETIRED stock market trader died from the effects of chronic alcoholism after turning to drink to ease the stress of her job.

Jill Elliot, otherwise known as Ann Margaret Elliot, 50, was found dead in her flat on Bridge Street Row, Chester, on February 2.

Cheshire coroners court heard that Mrs Elliot had led a high-flying career as an oil trader in London, but developed an alcohol problem because of the high level of pressure involved.

Her family last heard from her in a telephone call on January 31, when Mrs Elliot said she was feeling ill and was going to take the telephone off the hook and try to rest.

Her sister Julia Kay Slack, of Rochdale, told the inquest that she became worried when three days later she still could not contact her and phoned Cheshire Police.

Officers had to force entry to the locked flat and found Mrs Elliot slumped on the floor at the bottom of the stairs.

Dr Sally Ann Hales, of the Countess of Chester Hospital pathology department, told the court that a post mortem investigation showed the cause of death as aspiration caused by alcoholic ketoacidosis, a condition found in alcoholics whose diet mainly consists of alcohol.

Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg explained that when all the body's nutrition requirements come from alcohol, a period without alcohol will result in alcoholic ketoacidosis, causing flu-like symptoms and vomiting.

Dr Hales told the court that this condition could have suppressed Mrs Elliot's natural gag reflex, which would normally stop vomit being inhaled, causing aspiration.

Mr Rheinberg said that, as toxicology reports showed a low blood alcohol level, Mrs Elliot was probably not intoxicated at the time of her death.

He added: 'Death from the chronic effects of alcohol is classed as natural. It is only if a person dies from the actual effects of alcohol poisoning or aspiration when intoxicated that it is an unnatural death.

'On the balance of probabilities my verdict is that Ann Margaret Elliot died from chronic rather than the actual effect of alcohol.'

Verdict: death from natural causes.