A WOMAN took a fatal overdose of pills as a cry for help, an inquest at Warrington heard.

Margaret Johnson, of Margaret Court, Widnes, died aged 52 of multi-organ failure at a hospital in Leeds.

A verdict of accidental death was returned by Coroner John Hibbert after hearing Mrs Johnson had taken an overdose of paracetamol over a period of time.

The court heard the overdose was similar to one 16 years previously.

The deceased's sister Denise Durbin said: "When she took the first overdose it was a cry for help.

"So we got her on the right road and tried to help her as much as we could.

"I don't think she wanted to take her own life this time either.

"It was another cry for help."

Divorcee Mrs Johson was taken to Whiston Hospital after she fell ill.

From there she was moved to St James' Hospital in Leeds where she survived for 13 days.

The house was searched for any pills and some old prescribed pain killers were found. Only four out of of the 56 were left.

Mr Hibbert said: "I believe if she intended to take her own life she would have taken a lot more pills, all in one go."

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