A British woman accidentally strangled herself to death with her own pajamas in what was described as one of the most “unusual” cases ever seen.
Jackie Michelle Cottrill, 52, a popular bartender described as having “pulled a pint in every pub in Blackburn,” suffocated to death when her pajamas got stuck in an oven while she was making a bacon sandwich for her nephew, an inquest heard.
Cottrill’s lifeless body was discovered at her home on Jan. 24 by her nephew Josh Brocklebank.
Brocklebank, who had been living with his aunt, came downstairs to find that her clothing had gotten stuck in the oven after she made him the sandwich.
Dr. James Adeley, the coroner, said during a court hearing Wednesday that he had “never come across such an unusual case” in his 20 years on the job.
Her cause of death was listed as asphyxiation caused by the compression of her neck after her pajama top became accidentally entangled in the oven door, the news outlet reported.
“It is very unusual that someone who was fit and well managed to suspend themselves accidentally from the oven door,” Adeley told the court.
“What appears to have happened is that for some reason she has fallen and caught her pajama top on the lower handle of the oven door,” he said. “I can’t explain how she ended up in this position — it’s a very unusual case.”
Jackie Michelle CottrillJackie Michelle Cottrill was a popular bartender, who “pulled a pint in every pub in Blackburn.”Facebook
The inquest heard that Cottrill had suffered a stroke six years ago but that she did not suffer any ensuing balance problems.
Cottrill’s two daughters, Sarah Ramsdale and Toni Cottrill, attended the hearing along with their uncle, Adrian Macfarlane.
“Only she knows how it happened,” Ramsdale said.
The tragic barmaid was well-known in Blackburn, where she worked at the Queens Park Club, the Clifton and the Railway Club — and became known as “everyone’s agony aunt,” according to LancsLive.
“She knew everything about everyone and was never shy with a bit of gossip,” her daughters told LancsLive.
“Her wonderful sense of humor endeared her to everyone she came into contact with and it is a great testament to her nature that she formed so many long-lasting relationships over the years,” they added.
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