An American attorney and aspiring novelist tragically passed away while asleep on her mother's shoulder during a transatlantic flight bound for the United Kingdom, a coroner's court has heard. The inquest into the death of Rachel Green, aged 44 from East Bethel, Minnesota, revealed a combination of factors that led to the sudden incident aboard the Delta Air Lines service from Minneapolis to London Heathrow.
Peaceful Demise During Anticipated Research Trip
Rachel Green was travelling to London to conduct historical research for a novel she was writing about Eleanor of Aquitaine, the medieval queen who ruled as consort in both France and England. According to testimony heard at West London Coroner's Court, Ms Green fell asleep on her mother's shoulder during the seven-and-a-half-hour journey but was later found unresponsive by cabin crew members.
Medical Findings and Coroner's Verdict
Pathologist Dr Alan Bates informed the inquest that post-mortem examinations revealed Ms Green had "a multitude" of prescription medications in her system. These included several anti-depressants, melatonin, cannabinoids, and a low concentration of alcohol. Crucially, she was also found to have an undiagnosed cardiac condition described as myocardial tunnelling, where a section of a coronary artery travels beneath the heart muscle rather than on its surface.
Senior Coroner Lydia Brown recorded a verdict of misadventure, stating: "This lady simply died whilst on a flight. She was coming to our country to do some research, staying for some time with her mother. Instead, she did not even get off the plane without her mother and sister being bereaved."
Family Tributes and Unanswered Questions
Ms Green's sister, Roxanne Carney, who lives in California, provided a heartfelt statement describing her sibling as "a saint" and "the best aunt in the world" to her son, Jack. Mrs Carney, who works in the psychiatric field, raised concerns during the inquest about the combination of prescription medications her sister was taking, questioning why she had never been referred to a cardiologist despite an "abnormal" heart test result.
"I wonder why she was never referred to a cardiologist before being prescribed this combination," Mrs Carney stated. "Why was she on this regimen? Why are they prescribing this combination of medications?"
Coroner Brown responded by noting that medication practices differ between countries, stating: "Matters are done very differently in the US. There is no evidence that Rachel had any opportunity to be resuscitated. Her death appears to have been instantaneous."
Passenger Accounts and Investigation Details
The inquest heard statements from passengers aboard the Delta flight from Minneapolis Saint Paul International Airport to London Heathrow on April 30 last year. One traveller recalled the "awful" moment when a tannoy announcement asked if any doctors were on board the aircraft.
Coroner Brown emphasised that there was "no evidence" Ms Green had been recreationally using any drugs, and confirmed that professional resuscitation attempts by cabin crew proved unsuccessful. She concluded that the congenital heart condition, combined with the prescribed medications, contributed to her death, with no indication that any substances had been taken in excess.
Literary Legacy and Memorial Plans
Mrs Carney revealed that her sister was "secretly a brilliant writer" who had been working on a historical fiction novel about Eleanor of Aquitaine. "She was finally writing again and on her way to London to further research her historical fiction," she said. "She fell asleep peacefully on her flight on her mother's shoulder and, for reasons forever unknown, never woke up."
The family now hopes to complete Ms Green's unfinished novel. Mrs Carney has established a fundraiser for the Lakeshore Players Theatre in Minnesota, where her sister had reconnected with her love of theatre during her recovery from a previous illness, and for the purchase of a memorial at Golders Green Crematorium in London.
"Rachel had spent the past couple of years recovering from an unexpected illness, relearning to walk, and having to relocate back to her hometown in Minnesota to recuperate," Mrs Carney's tribute statement read. "She exuded unyielding strength and courage at even the most difficult times. If we could all be more like Rachel, the world would be a better place."
