A woman choked to death on a sausage after a life which “read like a tragedy”, an inquest heard.

Schizophrenic Georgina Pulker collapsed and died despite desperate attempts to save her at Aucklands Rest Home in Southbourne, Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne was told.

The Bournemouth inquest heard the 61-year-old often became agitated before self-harming by throwing herself on the floor and staff initially thought she was about to suffer such an episode.

But when Mrs Pulker started to go blue staff realised she may be choking but were unable to save her.

The inquest was told Mrs Pulker suffered from “significant mental health problems” and that her mother, a manic depressive, had jumped from a railway bridge when she was a child.

Her husband, Clive, had schizophrenia before his sudden death and she was diagnosed as schizophrenic herself after the birth of her son, Adam.

Adam was taken into care and has since been diagnosed as psychotic.

In a statement read to the inquest, her cousin, Dr Ian Palmer from Kent, said: “Georgie’s life and final demise read like a tragedy. She was a likeable, gentle soul who was incapable of independent living.

“She suffered unpleasant hallucinations most of her life but she endeared herself to her carers and was well-liked and kindly cared-for by all at Aucklands Rest Home.”

The inquest heard staff and paramedics could not see the sausage because it was lodged down her throat and that Mrs Pulker had never suffered problems with eating before her death on August 27.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Payne, inset, said: “The care that she received was top-notch. There has never been any concern about that and I have no criticism whatsoever.”

After the inquest, owner of the Ken Road rest home, Lynn Hart, said: “She was a lovely lady.

“It was a tragic death and our thoughts are with her family and friends.”

  •  In January, 46-year-old Army reservist David Atkins from Corfe Mullen died after choking on a sausage outside Sainsbury’s in Poole.