Amy Winehouse was more than five times drink-drive limit when she died

Amy Winehouse died of alcohol poisoning after a huge drinking session, an inquest ruled today.

The 27-year-old singer had been dry for three weeks but hit the bottle days before she was found dead.

She was more than five times over the 80mg legal drink-drive limit when her body was discovered on July 23 at her Camden house. Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, St Pancras coroner Suzanne Greenway said the star - who had been told her life was at risk from alcohol - had been found with three empty vodka bottles.

Ms Greenway said: "She had consumed sufficient alcohol at 416mg per decilitre [of blood] and the unintended consequence of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden and unexpected death."

Amy's father Mitch was in court with his wife Janet to hear the verdict. Janis, Amy's mother, was comforted by a friend. They issued a joint statement which read: "It is some relief to finally find out what happened to Amy. We understand there was alcohol in her system when she passed away, it is likely a build up of alcohol in her system over a number of days.

"The court heard that Amy was battling hard to conquer her problems with alcohol and it is a source of great pain to us that she could not win in time.

"It underlines how important our work with the Amy Winehouse Foundation is to us, to help as many young people and children as we can in her name. It means a lot to us and from the overwhelming messages of support we have had since Amy died, we know she meant a great deal to people all over the world.

"We want to thank everyone for that and for their continuing enthusiasm for the foundation."
The court was told that Winehouse had been drinking heavily on the night before she died and was visited by her GP, who described the singer as "tipsy" but "calm".

A post-mortem examination found the singer's vital organs in good health and with no traces of illegal drugs.

But pathologist Professor Suhail Baithun said the huge amounts of alcohol in her system could have stopped her breathing and sent her into a coma.

Dr Christina Romete, who visited the star the night before she died, told the inquest that Winehouse had given up drugs in 2008 and had been trying to abstain from alcohol but had a relapse.

Dr Romete said she prescribed medication to assist Winehouse's withdrawal from alcohol but said the singer had refused an offer of psychotherapy.

The GP said: "She was one of the most intelligent women I have ever met. She was very determined to do everything her way. She was tipsy. She was able to hold and follow conversations. She was looking forward to the future and we were talking about her birthday."

Dr Romete added: "She was able to stop taking alcohol for three to five days. She made determined efforts over the years. Our discussions were very much about how to bring positive change in her life. She was calm."

Live-in guard Andrew Morris told the court he had checked on Winehouse in her bedroom at 10am and thought she was asleep. But at 3pm she still had not moved and he then called emergency services.