A Thorpe St Andrew woman suffered fatal head injuries when she collapsing in a hairdressing salon, probably after 'a medical episode', an inquest heard yesterday.

Sally Hines, of Harvey Close, could have suffered a heart attack or epileptic fit, according to medical reports, though high blood-alcohol levels, more than three times the legal driving limit, may have had a bearing.

Ms Hines, 59, suddenly 'appeared confused' after having her hair cut on January 10, said Danielle Smith, a hairdresser at Sundrenched Tanning and Beauty in Heartsease.

Ms Hines bought gin before she arrived at the hairdressers, and went to the bathroom at the end of her appointment, when she could have drunk some of the alcohol.

After becoming confused at how much she owed, she began 'hissing' and became breathless, and stumbled before falling and banging her head.

An ambulance was called and Ms Hines was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, and the attending paramedic told the inquest he could clearly smell alcohol on her breath.

She was assessed but transferred to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge when her condition began to worsen. She continued to deteriorate and died on January 24.

Norfolk Coroner William Armstrong recorded a narrative verdict, saying that Ms Hines 'died accidentally from a haemorrhage following a fall which it is more likely than not was caused by a medical event.'