A Bushey mother died suddenly after suffering heart failure while she sat in her garden hot tub, an inquest heard today.

Stephanie Percivaldi, of Cooks Mead, was found face down in the water by her husband John who had briefly gone into the house to fetch the couple a drink on the evening of October 15.

Hatfield Coroner’s Court heard how 41-year-old Mrs Percivaldi was dragged from the spa by her husband who tried to revive her before paramedics arrived just two minutes later at 10.56pm.

Julie Goodchild, a member of the paramedic team that was in the area as the 999 call was made, described how the crew made numerous attempts to revive Mrs Percivaldi.

The paramedic explained how, after initial attempts at CPR had failed, the crew used tubes to try to create an airway and revive her heartbeat.

She said: “She was in cardiac arrest and we continued to administer CPR until she reached the hospital where a team was waiting to receive her.”

Doctors briefly managed to revive Mrs Percivaldi’s heartbeat at about midnight but she died at the hospital shortly after 8am.

Doctor Andrew Coady, who carried out the post mortem, gave the cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia, adding that the attack may have been caused by a thyroid problem Mrs Percivaldi was taking medication for.

The inquest also heard there was a history of heart problems in Mrs Percivaldi’s family and that a number of relatives had since been for check-ups.

Coroner Edward Thomas recorded the cause of death as cardiac arrhythmia with thyrotoxicosis as a possible contributory factor. He gave a verdict of natural causes and praised the actions of Mrs Percivaldi’s husband.

Mr Thomas said: “Everything he did was entirely right, getting her out of the water and onto a flat surface before the paramedics arrived. This must be very difficult for the whole family.”