Mum and baby found dead in flat next to unopened presents just days after Christmas

A mum and her 14-month-old son were found dead in their flat after not arriving at a friend's house on Christmas Day, an inquest heard.

Natalie Kane was said to be excited for her first 'proper' Christmas with her 'happy' baby boy Harry. However, on the evening of Christmas Eve, she seemingly decided to inhale lighter fluid and suffered catastrophic effects, LancsLive reports.

Harry died due to dehydration after effectively being left alone. The alarm was raised when Natalie failed to show up at her friend's house on Christmas Day as planned and stopped contacting her family.

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Paramedics were 'visibly upset' at the scene they found in the flat in Whitehaven in Cumbria on December 30. An inquest held yesterday (September 6) heard Natalie died as a result of substance abuse.

The 27-year-old had previously suffered with addiction and had no drugs other than her prescribed methadone in her urine when it was checked one week before her death. However, on the evening of Christmas Eve, she inhaled butane which led to her tragic death.

An inquest heard that Natalie had grown up in Cumbria and attended Maryport Primary School before spending time in the Sea Cadets, which allowed her to travel around the world. She also modelled for Littlewoods and later joined the Army where she served as an HGV driver before being discharged due to issues with alcohol.

Natalie suffered with depression throughout much of her life and was receiving support from services including Recovery Steps Cumbria and Women Out West after suffering from drug addiction and domestic abuse. One friend noted that she was keen to avoid her ex-partner and Harry's