Tragic Tetra Pak heiress, Eva Rausing, found dead after lying undiscovered for two months, died of cocaine abuse court hears

She was discovered in a fly-filled room hidden under a pile of bedding with a foil pipe in her hand, Westminster Coroner's Court heard

Tragic end: Eva Rausing (Rex Features)

Eva Rausing, one of Britain's richest women, died as a result of cocaine abuse, a coroner has ruled.

The body of the 48-year-old, who was the wife of multi-millionaire Hans Kristian Rausing, was discovered at the couple's house in Belgravia in central London on 9 July.

Her body lay undiscovered for two months before she was found at the five-storey west London home.

She was discovered in a fly-filled room hidden under a pile of bedding with a foil pipe in her hand, Westminster Coroner's Court heard.

A post-mortem found she had died on May 7 and had drugs in her system, including cocaine.

Police found the mother-of-four's body in an advanced state of decomposition after they had arrested Hans Rausing, who is heir to the Tetra Pak fortune, on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs on July 9.

He was given two suspended sentences in August after admitting preventing the lawful and decent burial of his wife's body.

The inquest heard that her pacemaker recorded heart beats up to 384 beats per minute on the calculated day of her death. The normal rate is 65.

Pathologists found no signs of violence on Mrs Rausing's body.

Deputy coroner Dr Shirley Radcliffe said Mrs Rausing died on May 7 as a result of cocaine intoxication contributed to by a heart condition - tricuspid valve disease.

Delivering her verdict, she said: "Mrs Rausing's death was as a result of the dependant abuse of drugs."