The family of a pensioner who died when she fell into a river - sparking a widespread 11-week-long search - have been told that they won't know the reason why their loved one died.
Gloria Ann Clarke, 80, went missing from her home in Eaglescliffe on New Year's Eve 2023 - leading to a widespread search operation that included Cleveland Police, coastguard, river rescue and firefighters - that lasted until her body was recovered from the River Tees in Stockton on March 18 this year.
During the search, police were seen in Yarm and Stockton after CCTV footage of a woman believed to be the pensioner was shared - showing her entering the water in Yarm.
Dog teams, specialist police and members of the public also carried out searches for the pensioners, which saw several cordons put up across Yarm and Stockton at the time of the incident.
At an inquest into Gloria's death, held at Teesside Coroners' Court on Tuesday (July 30), the assistant coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool, Karin Welsh, recorded that the 80-year-old's death would be noted as 'misadventure'.
During the hearing, it was noted that Mrs Clarke entered the River Tees on New Year's Eve after removing some of her clothing.
Despite police obtaining CCTV and information about the fall into the River Tees, senior coroner Welsh has told the family of Mrs Clarke that "no one may ever know how she died".
Her family, who were present at the inquest on Tuesday, said that the 80-year-old had been to the doctor with chronic pain in her back while having issues with a gallbladder - but after having no knowledge of Mrs Clarke having Alzheimer's or dementia - they are "at a loss" of how this had happened.
It was also noted that Mrs Clarke hadn't left a note and had booked to spend some time at her caravan, while also seeing her family eight hours before the fall, which showed "no suggestion" of things getting too much for her - indicating that she didn't intend to be carried away by the water of the River Tees.
Later in the inquest, her family said that it was "obvious" that Gloria was trying to get out of the River Tees but couldn't swim, with them even noting that she hated water.
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Summing up the inquest, senior coroner Welsh insisted that the hearing was a "bit of a conundrum" - and was hoping that her family would be able to shed some light on their loved one's death.
But after apologising to the family, she said: "I'm sorry, I've got no answers as to why Gloria went into the river. Noting an open verdict would be inconclusive. We will never know why she chose to enter the River Tees - my condolences to you and your family."
Concluding the hearing, senior coroner Walsh indicated that Mrs Clarke's death was by misadventure, saying that there was nothing to say that she intended to end her life.
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