Finding into death of Angela Christy Tulloh

44y · Female·hypothermia in the setting of methylated spirits ingestion

Angela Tulloh, a 44-year-old NDIS participant with autism, intellectual disability, and borderline personality disorder, died from hypothermia following ingestion of methylated spirits. She had a long history of self-harm behaviours including substance ingestion. On 31 October 2022, she left her specialist disability accommodation unannounced, purchased methylated spirits from a service station, and remained in a concealed area for over 40 hours in cold weather before being discovered deceased. The coroner found the care provided by her disability support service was reasonable and appropriate. Key clinical lessons include recognising the vulnerability of individuals with severe mental health and neurodevelopmental disorders to self-harm, the challenge of preventing elopement from residential facilities, and the importance of rapid response to missing persons with known self-harm history.