A woman who realised that her mother – and soulmate - was terminally ill stabbed herself in the neck with a hunting knife.

Michelle Awbery, aged 46, was found bleeding profusely and died despite efforts by paramedics and an air ambulance crew to save her.

At an inquest in Ruthin, John Gittins, coroner for North Wales East and Central, said that although she had some medical knowledge she would have realised the risk involved and clearly intended to kill herself. He recorded a conclusion of suicide.

Miss Awbery, of Clwyd Bank, Pwllglas, near Ruthin, was a qualified radiographer but was working as a sales assistant at Ruthin Craft Centre.

In a statement read at the inquest her father Stuart Awbery said she was a talented artist and a connoisseur of whisky, but sometimes drank to excess.

On September 8 last year her mother Clare was admitted to hospital and Mr Awbery said that because of her training Michelle realised that she was terminally ill.

“They were soulmates and did everything together,” he said.

On the afternoon of September 21 her brother Sean found her working out on a treadmill in their garden shed and told her to take it easy.

Later that day Stuart Awbery found her lying on her bed, with “blood everywhere”, and he could not stop the bleeding.

“She was the most wonderful daughter and a fantastic and talented artist,” he said.

A post-mortem examination revealed that she had severed the jugular vein, with cause of death being “massive blood loss”.

Miss Awbery had 165 milligrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, the drink-drive limit being 80.

Stuart Awbery was not present at the hearing but the coroner expressed sympathy with the family, especially as Clare Awbery had died just two weeks later.

“It was a very difficult time for them,” he said.