A WOMAN who fell down the stairs at her home while under the influence of alcohol died as a result of a fractured skull, an inquest heard.

Tracey Bowes was found slumped at the bottom of the stairs by her father after she had drunk at least a dozen cans of lager.

An inquest heard the 22-year-old, of Maynard Street, Carlin How, east Cleveland, had a history of drink and self-harm problems.

She was also known to stay up drinking into the early hours.

Her father, Michael, discovered his daughter unconscious at 9am on Sunday, August 1, last year.

Speaking at the hearing, at Teesside Coroners' Court, Mr Bowes said he had a drink with his daughter until 1am before going to bed and leaving her downstairs.

"She drank about 12 cans of lager but she drank whatever she had. When I found her, I thought she might have done self-harm or taken some pills like she has done before, but when I looked, it was a lot more serious than that," he said.

An ambulance crew took Miss Bowes to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

She had multiple fractures of the skull and an operation was carried out to remove a blood clot and relieve the pressure on the brain.

Despite the surgery, her brain continued to swell and Miss Bowes died a week later, on Sunday, August 8.

Pathologist Mustansir Nurbhai said the cause of death was due to head trauma consistent with a fall down stairs.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: "There was a blood alcohol reading that shows she had consumed a fairly high level of alcohol before she was found.

"She had been lying unconscious, where she was found, for some time.

"In view of the head injuries, I am satisfied that these were consistent with falling down the stairs."