The mysterious death of a woman, whose body was discovered in the River Severn, led to a murder investigation. However, an inquest revealed she likely “stumbled and fell unconscious” during a camping trip marred by alcohol and drugs.
Natalie Dean, aged 34, was found in the river with multiple injuries, such as broken ribs and loosened teeth, during the late-May Bank Holiday weekend of 2023. This prompted a police investigation into her death.
Authorities arrested and questioned her boyfriend, Lee Page, an army veteran, who had been with her on a romantic getaway in Llanidloes, Powys, Wales.
Nonetheless, the coroner determined that Natalie, who hailed from Ford, Shropshire, probably fell down a bank and lost consciousness after consuming a significant amount of alcohol and drugs.
Mr. Page, who has served in Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, awoke at 6 a.m. to realize that Natalie was missing from their tent.
He proceeded to check at a friend’s house and, upon failing to locate her, alerted the authorities.
The hearing was told Natalie’s injuries included a blunt force injury to her face, a fractured cheekbone, cuts to her mouth, loose teeth, four rib fractures and bruising and grazes on her elbows, forearms, knees and shins.
Forensic pathologist Dr Edward Williams said: ‘A number of substances were found in her blood – all added together they would potentially have a sedative effect.’
Natalie Dean (pictured) was found dead in the River Severn outside Llanidloes in Powys, Wales, in 2023
Her body was found in the water with several injuries, including loose teeth and broken ribs. Pictured is the River Severn near Llanidloes
Superintendent Jonathan Rees said Mr Page had been arrested on suspicion of murder, but Natalie’s cause of death had always been ‘a stumbling block’.
He said: ‘Sadly, there are always unknowns we may never have clarity over. My team followed every possible line of investigation.’
Mr Page, who has also since died, was on bail for a year after Natalie’s death until the probe was dropped in July 2024 – and he was told he would face no further action.
Friend Wayne Butler, who had been with the couple over the weekend, described Natalie as ‘a small, fiery little cracker’.
Coroner Rachel Knight said: ‘[Natalie] had bronchopneumonia, which she likely knew nothing about, which left her unable to move.
‘River water found in her body likely entered passively after her death.’
Her medical cause of death was given as the combined effect of drugs, bronchopneumonia and entering the river.
Delivering a narrative verdict at the inquest in Llandrindod Wells, Ms Knight said: ‘Natalie and Mr Page both took a significant amount of drugs and alcohol and they were highly intoxicated.
‘They bought more alcohol and made their way to a field where they set up a makeshift camp.
‘Mr Page lit a fire and was going to cook, while Natalie needed to urinate and went quite far away.
‘It is more than likely she was not making decisions that would make sense to a sober mind.
‘She somehow came upon the river and injured her face as she stumbled on the river bed. She likely had underlying pneumonia, unbeknown to her, and this, plus the drugs in her system, left her unable to move.
‘She remained lying there until she was found by search teams the next day.’
