Britain: Mother of two stabbed in the heart and tried to drive to hospital

Eleanor Barnfield, 47, a mother of two, died in Britain after being stabbed in the heart. Following the attack, she tried to drive herself to hospital.

Barnfield worked for a housing association. On October 19, she was found seriously injured inside her car in Bridgend.

According to the British newspaper the Daily Mail, the attack happened while she was working at Ger-Y-Nant, a residential complex for pensioners.

After being wounded, the 47-year-old set off for the Princess of Wales Hospital, about 2.4 kilometres away. She travelled approximately 275 metres before losing control of the car and crashing into a wall.

Emergency crews found her with a serious chest wound and took her to hospital, where she later died. Evidence presented at a hearing showed that the preliminary cause of death was a stab wound to the heart.

Clifford Foster, 61, a resident of the Ger-Y-Nant complex, has been charged with her murder. He appeared in court and was remanded in custody. The next hearing, for a plea and trial preparation, has been scheduled for November 23.

Her family described Eleanor as the most loving mother and one of the bravest people in the world. They said she was the pillar of the family and that relatives and friends would feel her absence forever. “She was everything to us,” her family said.

After the incident, claims emerged that Barnfield had waited hours for an ambulance before deciding to drive herself to hospital. The Welsh Ambulance Service denied the claims, saying crews were alerted at 12:44 and the first unit arrived at the scene seven minutes later.

Coroner Rachel Knight has adjourned the inquest into the 47-year-old’s death until the criminal proceedings are concluded.