Mother crashed into the portal of the Great Estate Festival and died

A mum who collapsed in a festival portable toilet after taking drugs could not be saved despite the best efforts of emergency workers, an inquest has heard. Dawn Elizabeth Mattia, from Devoran, near Truro, became seriously ill while attending last year’s Great Estate Festival.

The 57-year-old man had taken illicit drugs and collapsed from a sudden cerebral haemorrhage. She was rushed from the scene at Scorrier, near Redruth, to hospital but sadly died on 5 June 2023. She was previously said to have died on 7 June 2023 but this was corrected at the hearing.

An inquest into how he died was held at Cornwall Coroner’s Court in Truro today (July 10). He heard how the “big mum” who was a housewife told paramedics that she had been speeding before she felt sick.

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The festival’s medical team rushed to her aid within two minutes of receiving a report that a woman had been found “pleasant” in a portable toilet. She was described as having a suspected stroke due to the side of her face falling.

They discovered among her belongings a clear white bag containing a white substance they suspected to be illicit drugs. The team, including festival paramedics, provided emergency care until she was taken to hospital by an on-site ambulance.

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Workers were able to question Dawn at the time and she confirmed that she had taken illicit drugs. There was an immediate blue light transfer by paramedics to the scene due to the suspected stroke.

She was initially taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske, where she had a CT scan which showed a brain haemorrhage. Medicines were given to control her blood pressure and she was sent to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth for surgery, but her condition rapidly deteriorated.

A repeat scan showed a “significant increase” in blood volume and she was rushed to Derriford Hospital where she could undergo surgery. By the time he arrived, he was thought to have suffered irreversible brain damage and any attempt at surgery would be futile.

Adewunmi Oriolowo, consultant pathologist at Derriford Hospital, carried out a post-mortem. She showed a large cerebral hemorrhage that he described as “spontaneous in nature.” There were also signs of bronchopneumonia which may have been present due to infection before the bleed, but also possibly developed as a result of the brain bleed.

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Toxicology tests confirmed the use of cannabis and amphetamines. Dr Oriolowo said this could have caused the spontaneous bleeding and that if it hadn’t it would probably have contributed to her failure to survive.

He said he believed drug use was likely a “significant” contributing cause, as opposed to the direct cause of her hemorrhage and subsequent death. Dawn, who was born in Andover, was remembered as a “much loved” daughter, sister, partner, mother and friend in a tribute posted to the Andover Advertiser after her death.

She was said to be “deeply missed” as people were asked to wear color at her funeral to “reflect Dawn’s life”. Another tribute on an area website said: “Much loved daughter, sister, partner, mother and friend to all.

“She will be greatly missed. Donations welcome in Dawn’s memory to The Dogs Trust via dawnmattia.muchloved.com.” The fundraiser can be found here.

Emma Hillson, assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly recorded a finding of drug-related death as a result of the use of amphetamines. She said it was more likely that drug use caused or contributed to the bleeding.