An inquest has revealed harrowing new details about the death of a champion horse rider who was found hanged just hours after celebrating her first wedding anniversary in a luxury Harrogate hotel.
A Celebration Turns to Tragedy
Abigail Garside, a 30-year-old accomplished equestrian from Blackburn, Lancashire, was discovered dead by a member of the public in the centre of Harrogate, North Yorkshire, in the early hours of August 18 last year. The tragic discovery came during a weekend meant to celebrate her first year of marriage to husband Samuel Garside.
Northallerton Coroner's Court heard that the couple had been staying at the plush Rudding Park resort. Their social media initially painted a picture of a perfect celebration. Mrs Garside posted on Instagram: "Lovely day in Harrogate celebrating our first wedding anniversary with my love." Mr Garside shared a similarly affectionate post marking the milestone.
The Final Hours: Drink, Drugs, and a Fatal Argument
Behind the idyllic online images, the inquest was told a different story. The couple had spent the day of August 17 drinking champagne, including while in a hot tub, and had also taken cocaine. They later went bar-hopping in the town, continuing to mix alcohol and drugs.
An argument erupted at Mojo's bar, which continued after they returned to their hotel room between midnight and 1am. Assistant Coroner for North Yorkshire, Sarah Middleton, recounted: "There was an argument there and Abigail left the hotel between 2 and 2.30am. Sadly, she left her phone there."
The court heard Mrs Garside had accused her husband of failing to stick up for her during the earlier bar dispute before she "stormed out" of the room. Mr Garside fell asleep and upon waking to find his wife missing, he drove frantically around Harrogate searching for her, unaware she had left her mobile phone behind.
A Devastating Discovery and Future Plans Cut Short
Mr Garside's desperate search ended when he spotted police near the hotel. Officers informed him of his wife's death, leaving him in "visible shock, shaking and crying."
The coroner revealed the couple had been planning to start a new life in Australia before Mrs Garside's death. In a heartfelt statement, her father said: "She had a great future. She was happily married and everything was on the up. When we found out it was a complete shock."
The inquest has laid bare the devastating sequence of events that transformed a celebration of love into an unimaginable loss, highlighting the tragic consequences of that fateful night in Harrogate.
