Mum-of-three drowned in shallow stream after falling in while unconscious... a coroner says there are 'unanswered questions' over her death

A mum-of-three drowned in a shallow stream after falling into the water while unconscious, an inquest has heard.

Joanne Baird's body was found by two children who were playing in Hey Brook stream in Rochdale on June 3, 2021. The 42-year-old had been drinking in the area with a man named Asif Mahmood the previous day.

At an inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court yesterday (Monday), a coroner said there were 'unanswered questions' over Ms Baird's tragic death.

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Robert Baird, Ms Baird's father, told the hearing that his daughter had struggled with drink and drug problems for several years but described her as ‘happy go lucky’ and said she had a ‘great personality and a lovely heart’.

Ms Baird - also known as Joanne Mitchell - spent several hours drinking alcohol with Mr Mahmood after meeting him for the first time on the afternoon of June 2, 2021, the hearing was told. Giving evidence, Mr Mahmood said he walked past Ms Baird while she was sitting on a sofa behind a barber shop in Halifax Road.

The inquest heard that CCTV captured the pair drinking and talking for about 15 minutes before they headed in the direction of All Saints Church, in nearby Foxholes Road.

Mr Mahmood said he and Ms Baird smoked cannabis together in the churchyard and continued drinking. They then made their way down a 'ravine' towards the stream, the inquest heard.

As they walked along a trail towards the water, Mr Mahmood said Ms Baird 'stumbled and fell'. He said he picked her up but she then fell into the stream.

Mr Mahmood told the inquest that he pulled Ms Baird from the water and placed her on her back next to the stream. He said he then