Cafe owner died after falling into Hereford stream

A former teacher and cafe owner died after falling into a stream next to one of the busiest roads in Hereford, an inquest has heard.

Jo Snowzell, 44, had been staying in a tent alongside the retail park on Newtown Road.

The assistant coroner, Lindsey Tonks, concluded she had died accidentally and told her family that she was sorry that all their questions had not been answered.

The inquest heard how she was dependent on alcohol at the time of her death.

The inquest heard how the 44-year-old had a long history of mental health disorders.

She had been diagnosed with dependent personality disorder which a psychiatrist believed she had experienced since childhood.

She had been staying in a tent with her partner, Dan Jenkins, for two months before she died.

The tent was pitched on a grass verge next to the busy Hereford Retail Park on Newtown Road.

The day before her death, the couple were told they had been offered supported accommodation at Hope Scott House in Hereford.

The assistant coroner Lindsey Tonks described how Jenkins had gone into the city centre to charge his phone on the morning of February 9th.

As he walked across Newtown Road, he saw his partner's pink coat near the stream and her body lying face down in the water.

He pulled her out, phoned an ambulance and started attempting to resuscitate her.

"Jo appears to have been trying to walk to the bridge across the brook when she fell," said the assistant coroner.

"She fell face down and drowned very quickly from cold water shock and the water entering her lungs. She wouldn't have had time to get herself out."

The inquest heard how the former student of art in Hereford and London had gone on to work for the BBC in Bristol on the Antiques Roadshow and Electric Proms.

She taught at Earl Mortimer School in Leominster, and the Aconbury School where she worked with pupils who had challenging behaviour.

In 2019, she opened a deli and cafe in Hereford city centre.

Snowzell had been dependent on alcohol since she was 33, having previously been teetotal, the inquest heard.

She had been alcohol-free between September 2022 and October 2024, and won an award for her rehabilitation.

She briefly worked for Turning Point, the Hereford drugs and alcohol recovery service, and contacted them in October 2025 to say she'd relapsed.

Her funeral was held at Hereford Cathedral, a place her family say she found to be safe and welcoming, and a source of great support to her.

Best friend Hayley Turner said she was offered a huge amount of support from health and housing professionals and charities.

"I'm urging people to help those whom they love by getting them help with addiction as soon as they can," she said.

"I want people to understand the seriousness of alcohol addiction, of any addiction.

"Please get professional help, don't think you're alone, because you're not."

She said a small problem was much easier to deal with, and encouraged others to engage with the help on offer."

"Early intervention is crucial and Turning Point Hereford offer discreet services for the family and for the person addressing their addiction issues," she said.

Jo's sister Steph Snowzell said she had many friends.

"She was loved by so many people, she packed a lot into her life."

"We're just glad she's not having to battle the demons anymore."

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