University student who drank herself to death at Ann Summers party

Amanda Rapley, who suffered from epilepsy, was found dead in her hall of residence after the event which featured a free bar.

Miss Rapley, who would have been 22 yesterday, drank so much at the party that she had to be taken back to her room and put to bed by friends, who told a warden of their concerns. Her body was discovered the next day.

Last night Southampton University announced they would be holding an inquiry into the death of Miss Rapley who was studying at the Winchester School of Art.

Fellow students told an inquest that on the evening of April 25th this year, Miss Rapley had joined friends for an Ann Summers party on the campus.

After drinking excessively at the free bar, three friends helped her back to her room.

Helen Saldanha, who was at the party with Amanda, said: "I think she had about half a bottle of wine in about five minutes.

"I said 'Amanda, I think we should take you back'."

Miss Saldanha, along with fellow students Claire McHugh and Alison Smith, then walked their friend back to her room and left her conscious and in bed.

She added: "It was unusual because she did not seem aware of how out of control she was, so I went to the warden and said how concerned I was."

Miss Rapley, whose family live in Swindon, Wiltshire, was found dead in her room the following evening after worried neighbours raised the alarm.

The inquest in Winchester heard that a free bar was in operation at the Ann Summers party in the Erasmus Park student village.

The inquest was told that the amount of alcohol found during a post-mortem examination six days after Miss Rapley's death was nearly twice the drink-drive limit.

Consultant pathologist Dr Adnan Al-Badri said that the alcohol reading could have been higher at the time of death.

At the inquest in Winchester, assistant deputy central Hampshire coroner Christopher Wilkinson recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said it was likely that Miss Rapley died from excessive alcohol, rather than from an epileptic fit.

He added he was satisfied that there were no suspicious circumstances regarding her death.

Afterwards a Southampton University spokesman said: "We were deeply saddened by the news of Amanda's death, and our thoughts continue to be with her family.

"The university strongly promotes sensible drinking and our students' union has an ongoing programme of advising students about responsible drinking.

"We have been waiting for the inquest before holding our own inquiry as we did not want to prejudge the coroner's findings.

"Now the inquest has been conducted, our own inquiry will take place and we will look carefully at the findings and any recommendations made by the coroner."

A spokeswoman for Ann Summers said: "Ann Summers takes no responsibility for this tragic and regrettable accident.

"The company did not provide alcohol for the free bar.

"Party planners are self employed and do not provide alcohol for parties."

Winchester School of Art students' union was unavailable for comment.