Teacher, 22, ‘drowned in harbour after drug-fuelled night spent on party boat with lover and pals’
Pals of Rosie Meitiner say she took drugs on the night before she was found drowned in Plymouth Harbour
A YOUNG teacher with a bright future fell into a marina and drowned after taking drugs and alcohol on a night out, an inquest heard.
Rosie Meitiner, 22, of Plymouth, Devon, was found dead in the water at King Point Marina on 6 May this year, the morning after she had been on a party boat with friends.
Her partner Robert Morris described an enjoyable evening with dancing and drinking on the boat but in the last 30 minutes, Rosie appeared to change.
He said Rosie "appeared more intoxicated" and while he did not see her taking drugs, he said she appeared unstable, slurred her words and vomited over the side.
After arguing, the couple parted before Rosie's body was found the next morning but no witnesses saw her enter the water.
A toxicology examination of Rosie's body found high levels of ketamine and alcohol. Cocaine and prescription medicine were also found.
Rosie's friend Lucy Oliver told the inquest that on the night she had met up with her and Robert at his flat where her friend had drunk "wine and possibly rum" and then "took some magic mushrooms of her own".
She wrote that Rosie appeared to be "in her own little world, under the influence".
By 10.45pm she said she believed that "the intoxicant had worn off" and they said goodbye.
She insisted that Rosie had seemed "quite positive of her future" and there was no suggestion she had any intention to harm herself.
The next morning her body was discovered by a self-employed boat builder and police and paramedics were called.
Assistant coroner Louise Wiltshire said it was clear Rosie was a "loving, caring, intelligent lady with everything to live for".
However, she also recognised the comments of Rosie's friend Lucy who claimed the young woman appeared to be functioning well by 10pm and the effects of "the intoxicants had worn off".
As such she said she was not satisfied the ketamine "caused or contributed" to Rosie entering the water or that it prevented her from extricating herself from the water.
She recorded the cause of death as drowning but not in association with ketamine toxicity.
As such, she said her conclusion was Rosie's death was a tragic accident and recorded it as an accidental death.
The inquest in Plymouth on Tuesday heard how Rosie had been a "gifted and talented" drama student while attending Callington Community College.
She had also gained a triple distinction at the College of Art and spent time travelling the Far East, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Nepal.
The adventurous youngster had studied in Barcelona, worked at a heritage site as an actress, taught English as a second language in Australia and was due to attend a degree course interview just days after her life was cut short.
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In a moving written statement at Plymouth Coroner's Court Rosie's mother Laurie Meitiner highlighted her daughter's "great sense of adventure", her passion for art and textiles and her wonderful sense of humour.
She added: "She was a beautiful human being and it has devastated so many people. So many people are grieving massively".
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