Amy GrayA Suffolk woman died from hypothermia inside a freezer in a locked outbuilding at her home, an inquest heard .Amy Gray

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

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

The inquest at Lowestoft Magistrates' Court 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.'