A MOTHER-OF-TWO and talented youth worker was found at the foot of an oak tree with a cable around her neck, an inquest heard.
Stacey Hansell, 33, of Meadow Road, Rettendon, was found by a friend lying unconscious under the tree and was rushed to hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Senior coroner for Essex Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict at the inquest at County Hall, Chelmsford, on Monday, having been unsure whether Miss Hansell intended to kill herself.
On Saturday, June 7, last year, Miss Hansell was having a few drinks in a neighbour's garden when, following a "disagreement", she left with partner Marcus Hook.
She later left to go to another neighbour's house.
Police Inspector David Richards, giving evidence at the hearing, said it was there she spotted a cable, asked the neighbour to leave the house on an errand, before leaving the house herself shortly after.
The neighbour went looking for her and discovered her at the foot of the tree with the cable tied to a branch 7ft up.
He and Mr Hook attempted first aid, but doctors diagnosed brainstem death at Broomfield Hospital at 2.21pm the next day.
Miss Hansell's organs were donated as were her wishes.
A post-mortem examination ruled she died from hanging and toxicology tests revealed there were no significant levels of alcohol or drugs in her body.
"My understanding was this lady was distressed and she, for whatever reason, had run off in an anguished state," said Mr Richards. "She was in possession of a cable and that cable was found wrapped around her neck, and I have no grounds to suspect anyone else's involvement in it."
Miss Hansell, a former pupil of Our Lady Immaculate R C Primary School and St John Payne School in Chelmsford, worked with an estimated 200 youngsters during her five years at Essex County Council.
She worked with children at risk of exclusion from school, while juggling professional qualifications, and was expected to earn a first-class honours degree from the London-based YMCA George Williams College.
Addressing Miss Hansell's family, Mrs Beasley-Murray said: "I am aware she picked up the cable and did what she did, but it does seem ever so impetuous.
"She obviously didn't leave a note and it does seem a very spur-of-the-moment thing, so I'm not sure that she killed herself, so I am not going to record suicide.
"We will never quite know what was going through her mind that evening, so I am going to record an open verdict.
"She clearly had a lot going for her, which makes it so very, very, tragic."
