Champion horsewoman, 30, who was found hanged after celebrating her first wedding anniversary had taken cocktail of alcohol and cocaine, inquest hears

A champion rider took a cocktail of alcohol and cocaine after celebrating her first wedding anniversary at a luxury spa, an inquest heard.

Abigail Garside, 30, ‘hurried out’ of her hotel room after an argument with her husband Samuel; just hours after the couple posted jubilant photos on Facebook to celebrate their marriage milestone.

Northallerton Coroner’s Court heard Miss Garside, a skilled equestrian, had not intended to commit suicide after the fight but had acted tragically under the combined influence of alcohol and cocaine.

The couple, from Blackburn, Lancashire, spent August 17 last year at the private 300-acre Rudding Park resort in Harrogate to celebrate their first anniversary of marriage.

Ms Garside shared images of the couple clinking glasses of champagne in the jacuzzi on social media, writing: ‘A lovely day celebrating our first wedding anniversary with my love in Harrogate.’

Mr Garside also celebrated the milestone by sharing it online and writing: ‘It’s been 1 year since you became my wife!! ‘I love you more and more every day, happy anniversary.’

But the inquest heard the celebrations took a tragic turn when the couple consumed alcohol and cocaine while visiting pubs in the town.

The couple (pictured) had shared joyful photos on social media at the 300-acre Rudding Park resort just hours before Ms Garside’s body was found.

Sam Garside left Northallerton Coroner’s Court today, where the inquest into the death of his wife Abigail Garside was being heard.

An argument broke out at Mojo’s bar after Mrs Garside became involved in a dispute over a pool cue.

The couple decided to separate, but the fight continued at the hotel and the woman accused him of not defending her.

While Mrs. Garside left angrily, Mr. Garside, the project manager, fell asleep and woke up to find his wife had not returned.

He was discovered in the town center by a member of the public shortly after 6.20am on August 18 and paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

Deputy North Yorkshire coroner Sarah Middleton said: ‘That weekend must have been special because it was his wedding anniversary.

‘You were celebrating in Harrogate, you had a lovely day. You went to the spa, celebrated with champagne, ate and drank.

‘Alcohol was consumed and you may have taken some cocaine. Abigail also took cocaine.

‘There was an argument in the bar. Abigail and you are gone.

‘You returned to the hotel between midnight and 1am. An argument broke out there and Abigail left the hotel between 2 and 2.30am.

Abigail’s death comes a year after her wedding to Sam (seen above) at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa resort in Burnley, Lancashire, on August 17, 2024.

Miss Garside was well known in equestrian circles and had won the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in 2019.

‘Unfortunately he left his phone there. Mr. Garside fell asleep and when he woke up Abigail was not there. He went to look for her.

‘Unfortunately, Abigail was located by a member of the public.’

Toxicology tests revealed ‘high levels’ of alcohol as well as cocaine in Ms Garside’s blood. Ms Middleton said this combination was likely to have influenced his actions.

He said Ms Garside was ‘happily married’ and ‘looking to the future’ and explained that the couple were weeks away from moving to Australia with their dog.

The coroner said: ‘Abigail was a girl who loved life. She loved her husband, was planning a life in Australia, and loved her animals.

‘He had no chronic health problems, no regular medications and no mental health problems.

‘He had everything to live for.’

The couple had married a year ago at the Crow Wood Hotel and Spa near Burnley and were living in a newly built three-bedroom detached house on the outskirts of Blackburn.

In the statement, Mr Garside said he had booked two nights at a hotel and spent Saturday quietly watching movies and enjoying takeaways.

On Sunday, they went to Betty’s for breakfast before heading to the spa where they drank champagne.

After returning to the hotel, they continued drinking vodka Red Bulls and tequila before going out again.

Mr Garside said they were both “a bit drunk” and had taken cocaine, and admitted it was “not an unusual situation for either of us”.

After leaving the hotel room, Mr. Garside said he tried to call his wife but realized he had left his phone behind.

When she did not return until the morning, he drove around Harrogate looking for her and later wondered if she might have taken a taxi home.

He told the court he only learned of her death after he noticed police across the street from the hotel and spoke to an officer.

A police officer said Mr Garside told officers his wife had ‘hurried out’ of the hotel room. Another officer described him as ‘visibly in shock, shaking and crying’.

Miss Garside was an accomplished dressage rider who won the prestigious Horse of the Year Show in 2019 and was well known in the equestrian community.

Friends said he was also a keen traveler and outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed hiking, wild swimming and skydiving.

The couple had advertised their newly built detached house for rent on the outskirts of Blackburn and obtained visas before their planned move to Australia with their three dachshund dogs.

Earlier this summer, Ms Garside posted a photo of the couple in Melbourne and wrote: ‘We’ve been keeping a secret. ‘This is our new future home.’

On the same day, Mr Garside wrote on Instagram: ‘It’s been a long 6 months but we’re officially committed to Australia! Visas approved. The house is secured.

‘A brand new chapter and adventure begins.’

Mrs Garside was found dead in public gardens the morning after she toasted the milestone of her marriage to husband Samuel at a luxury spa on August 18.

Mr and Mrs Garside (pictured) were planning to move to Melbourne and had obtained visas ahead of their planned move with their three dachshund dogs.

Recording an oral verdict, the coroner concluded: ‘I know from experience that the combination of alcohol and cocaine can cause people to behave in ways they would not normally do, and what happened to Abigail seems completely out of character.

‘There was no way he could have done this if he hadn’t taken alcohol and cocaine’ [taken her life]. ‘He had so much to live for.’

Miss Garside’s father, Andrew Leaver, told the inquest that his daughter ‘loved life’.

He said: ‘He had a great future. He was happily married and everything was fine. ‘We were in complete shock when we found out.’

Following his wife’s death, Mr Garside paid tribute to his wife by sharing a photo taken the day before on social media and wrote: ‘My absolute world, my best friend and my beautiful beloved wife.

‘I will love you forever and you will never leave my heart xxx.’

Ribble Valley Riding Club, of which Ms Garside was a member for more than 20 years, said it was deeply saddened by her death and described her as a very valued supporter who ‘will be sadly missed by everyone in the horse world’.

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