Inquest opens into death of paramedic at house

An inquest has been opened into the death of a paramedic whose body was found alongside that of a student nurse at a house in Staffordshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic Daniel Duffield, 24, and Lauren Evans, 22, were discovered at property in Hednesford, near Cannock, in June.

The death of Ms Evans, from Bridgend, south Wales, is being treated as murder, with Staffordshire Police stating detectives are not looking for anyone else in relation to her death.

The inquest relating to Mr Duffield was opened and adjourned to a later date in a brief hearing held by Staffordshire and Stoke Coroner's Service on Monday morning.

Mr Duffield had appeared on the Channel 4's documentary series 999: On The Frontline, which follows ambulance crews on callouts across the West Midlands.

He had been based at an ambulance hub in Willenhall, and was described as a well-known member of staff who was always keen to help his colleagues.

The family of Lauren Evans described her as "truly beautiful inside and out", who had a "thoughtful, caring and loving nature".

She was about to start a career in mental health nursing, and "would have excelled and been an attentive and caring nurse", they said.

Ms Evans and Mr Duffield were found at a home on Alpine Drive, Hednesford, on 25 June.

An inquest hearing had already been opened into Ms Evans' death, but her cause of death has not yet been revealed.

Two police forces, Staffordshire and South Wales, have referred themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) following recent contact they had with the pair.

Det Insp Louise Booker from Staffordshire Police, who confirmed the death of Ms Evans was being treated as murder, said officers were continuing to build a file for the coroner.

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