A WOMAN who starred in the BBC show Escape to the Country tragically died while undergoing a procedure in hospital, an inquest has heard.
Emma Izzard, 53, was rushed to hospital on November 19 last year – after she had started to vomit blood – and died the following day after going into cardiac arrest while undergoing a gastroscopy.
Emma Izzard, 53, suffered from alcoholism before her tragic death last year, an inquest has heard[/caption]
She appeared on a 2021 episode of Escape to the Country with her partner at the time Kym Lofthouse[/caption]
The star had previously appeared on an episode of the iconic BBC show in 2021 with her partner at the time Kym Lofthouse in the hopes of the pair finding a “new perfect life”.
An inquest into her death – held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court this week – also heard how the 53-year-old died after struggling with alcoholism.
Emma and Kym lived together in Luton, Bedfordshire, and were hoping to start a dream life in Norfolk when they signed up to the show.
Aided by Escape to the Country host Ginny Buckley, the pair set out to try to find their perfect home, having picked Norfolk for its “clean air” and “slower place of life”.
Eventually, they moved to North Walsham in the county and despite later parting ways, the pair remained friends.
At the inquest into Emma’s death this week, Kym told the hearing how her former partner’s alcohol consumption rose in July 2022 after her mum fell ill.
The Eastern Daily Press reported that Kim also told the inquest Emma was fearful she was going to lose her mum.
She added: “After six months of secret drinking, she wanted to stop but couldn’t get the help required quickly enough and began drinking again.”
Despite undergoing several stints in rehab, relapses caused her drinking “to become heavier”.
Kym continued: “Emma did not want to drink but it had taken a strong hold of her.”
Emma was rushed to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital by ambulance on November 19, 2024, after she had begun to vomit blood.
Tragically, Emma died after going into cardiac arrest while undergoing a gastroscopy in the operating theatre.
At the inquest, her cause of death was given as an oesophageal and variceal bleed, with alcohol-related liver disease.
The hearing was also told that Emma’s dad – who died when she was just a teenager – had struggled with alcoholism himself.
Coroner Johanna Thompson concluded that Emma’s death was alcohol related.
She said the 53-year-old had a “history of excess alcohol consumption”, adding she had been suffering from alcohol-related liver disease.
The coroner said Emma presented with symptoms of acute alcohol withdrawl at the hospital, stating that the treatment undertaken sadly could not have saved her life.
