A Suffolk woman died from hypothermia after sitting inside a freezer in a locked outbuilding at her home, an inquest has heard.

Beryl Revell, of Noyes Avenue, Laxfield, died on June 2 this year, aged 69.

The inquest, at Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court, yesterday heard that Mrs Revell was a popular member of the community in Laxfield, a village between Halesworth and Diss, and was a retired carer.

When her husband realised she was missing on June 2, a search was made by family, friends and police.

There were three outbuildings at her home, and two of them were open. These were searched but the key could not be found for the third.

As soon as family members returned to the home from a search in the village, a police officer asked for the locked outbuilding to be opened. The inquest heard that Mrs Revell was found inside, in a chest freezer. She was lifted out but could not be resuscitated.

Yvonne Blake, deputy assistant coroner for Suffolk, said the post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as hypothermia, and recorded an open verdict.

She said that Mrs Revell was “clearly a very popular lady” who took full part in the social life of the village.

“Police are satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her being found, however, there was no indication as to why and how she ended up there,” she said.

“It is a very sad and traumatic time for Mrs Revell’s family and I extend my condolences to them.”

Though Mrs Revell’s family did not wish to make any comment about her death or the result of the inquest, an announcement made by husband Tommy and daughter Karen thanked relatives, friends and neighbours for their support, and everyone who attended the funeral service in Laxfield on June 17.

A total of �1,617 was collected and divided between the East Anglian Air Ambulance and Activities Unlimited, which organises activities, events and breaks for disabled children and young people in Suffolk.