Mother who was found dead in river at Creswell Crags had ‘severe’ alcohol problems, inquest hears

Sharon Burgin’s body was found in the river at the Derbyshire tourist spot on the evening of Tuesday 28th August 2012.

The first accounts into the death of the 54-year-old were heard at Chesterfield Coroner’s Court on Monday before the coroner adjourned the hearing for further witnesses.

Woman’s body found at Creswell Crags

CRags death not being treated as suspicious

When asked about her mother’s problems with alcohol by coroner Sophie Cartwright, Katie Anderson said: “Severe. So bad.”

Mrs Anderson said her mother had suffered difficulties with drink for around 10 years.

She also explained how her mother had received ‘lots of support’ from people trying to help her for a number of years.

The court heard that Mrs Burgin had been dropped off at Creswell Crags by her husband Peter on Monday 27th August 2012 so she could ‘clear her head’ and buy some food and cigarettes.

Mr Burgin made a telephone call to his daughter the next day after he had been out fishing and he said her there had been no sign of his wife.

Mrs Anderson told a packed court that part of her thought it was a ‘little strange’ that she had not made any contact as she would normally get in touch or the police would phone.

She referred back to a time when her mother was found by police on a park bench suffering from hypothermia.

She said: “My dad called me after he had been fishing the next day and agreed to have a ride out to see if he could find her.”

Mr Burgin made a second call that evening after driving out to the location.

Mrs Anderson added: “He said he was at Creswell Crags and that he had some bad news for me.”

The case was adjouned until Tuesday 6th January 2015.