Mum-of-two found dead by pals after eight-hour booze and cocaine binge at house party

A young mum-of-two drank herself to death after embarking on an eight-hour vodka and cocaine binge.

Zoe Whelan, 30, was found dead on the floor of a friend’s house having consumed vodka shots and snorted lines off a table during a house party.

One guest at the bash in Stockport, Greater Manchester said Zoe was “10/10” drunk and claimed she was the most intoxicated person he had ever seen in his life. Tests showed she would have been more than four times the alcohol limit for driving.

Police arrested the party host over the tragedy but it is not known whether any further action has been taken against her.

At an inquest in Stockport, Zoe’s dad Lewis Wells said: “I miss her so much, it has broke my heart. I will never forget her.

“I have to bring up her two children now because of them. She loved her two children very dearly, now they have no mother because of what they did to her, those druggies.”

The tragedy occurred on December 4 last year after Zoe first went to the home of close friend Lynsey McDonald where she met another pal Gemma Smith and other friends.

Miss Smith said she and Zoe “had cocaine on the side” at the party and “Zoe asked for it”, although Miss McDonald denies claims the drugs were consumed at her house.

Miss Smith said: “Zoe was really intoxicated, at one point she was falling over and couldn’t stand up, so we took her upstairs for a lie-down. She was falling over at around 2am. I had a lot to drink as well, but I was not as drunk as her.

“I didn’t think it was right how intoxicated she was and she was not asking to go home. Instead she staggered up the stairs and we just put her in bed. I walked her upstairs with someone, I cannot remember who. We just laid herself on top of the covers. I cannot remember the position she was in.

“I then went back downstairs then and had a few more drinks and carried on chatting. I regretted not going to check on Zoe and I didn’t realise what had happened until one of the guys shouted from upstairs to come up.

“She was not responsive when I went upstairs. I called the ambulance and they advised to start chest compressions. No one else went to check on her that I am aware of. When we found her dead we rang the ambulance straight away. I wasn’t aware she had been unwell. I am broken.”

Toxicology tests showed Zoe had 336 micrograms of alcohol in her bloodstream. The alcohol limit in blood for driving is 80mg. She had also had traces of cocaine, the anti anxiety drug Pregabalin and cannabis in her system.

Det Insp Rebecca Mills of Greater Manchester Police told the inquest: “Heavy drinking had been going on and three small snap bags of empty cocaine powder were found which had been disbarred and consumed. Zopiclone tablets we’re found in Zoe’s pocket but had not been consumed.”

Recording a conclusion of drink and drug-related death assistant coroner Lauren Costello said: “Three empty snapbags of cocaine were found at the premises and it was clear Zoe had taken cocaine. She was also four times the legal limit for driving from alcohol.

“I am satisfied the alcohol combined with the cocaine and pregabalin caused her to suffer cardiorespiratory depression. I am also satisfied she took the drugs on her own accord.

“I am so sorry and I sent my condolences to the family and friends to Zoe who was a wonderful mother and friend.”