'Popular and bubbly' NHS worker died after taking heroin, a court heard
24.03.2023 - 13:03
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
An NHS worker who previously saved a man's life while off-duty has tragically died after taking heroin, a coroner's court heard.
Adele Sheppard, 34, was a health care assistant at Rotherham General Hospital and also helped a man who was subjected to a serious assault in February 2019. Despite this, she had a difficult personal life which she tackled by seeking help for heroin and crack cocaine.
Doncaster Coroners Court heard how Adele was an 'outgoing and bubbly[ woman who was surrounded by a large friendship group. She was also popular at work, however, colleagues had voiced concerns about her 'going downhill' before her eventual death on May 7, 2021, Yorkshire Live reports.
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In a statement read to the court, Adele's father Michael described how she had been a straight-A student at Blackburn Primary School. He added that around the age of 15, her life became more difficult and she became less engaged with school.
He told the court how she would often not come back to the family home and police were made to get involved in finding her on multiple occasions. By the time she was 17, Adele left the family home and informed her parents that she had secured a council flat of her own.
Mr Sheppard highlighted that the relationship with Adele and her parents became strained and there wold often be points in her life where she wouldn't contact them due to a fallout. At work, Adele was described as "bubbly and lively" by her colleagues whenever she was well.
But, concerns were raised about her time keeping and appearance at work - she eventually confided in a colleague that she was a heroin user. Adele sought help from the