A DEPRESSED elderly woman who was found in an icy pond died because of ‘dry drowning’ a coroner has ruled.

Patricia Fieldsend, 79, killed herself in Milton Pond but did not have any ‘classical signs of drowning’, an inquest was told on Wednesday.

The pensioner was found in the pond by a security guard on his way to work in March last year.

Pathologist Dr Alfredo Walker told the inquest her lungs and stomach did not contain excessive water which meant he could not give a cause of death.

He ruled out traumatic injury and natural causes and said dry drowning was a possibility.

He said: “It could have been dry drowning. Around 10 per cent of drowning cases can have no signs of classical drowning.

“It is usually associated with drink but she had no alcohol in her system. It is also associated with very cold water.”

Police confirmed that there was ice on the pond when they arrived at the scene that morning.

After an extensive investigation, officers were satisfied that no one else was involved.

Mrs Fieldsend, of Upper Hoyland Road, Hoyland had suffered from depression since 2002 and was undergoing treatment at Kendray day hospital.

The inquest was told she had become very upset when she thought the hospital wanted to put her in a home - a claim denied by the hospital.