July 16, 2020 3.55 pm This story is over 43 months old

Woman died after she set herself on fire over coronavirus hoax fears

She felt coronavirus was a hoax that could lead to war

A woman in Lincolnshire who was obsessed that “coronavirus was a hoax that could lead to war” died after setting herself on fire.

Zsuzsanna Marlyin, 49, felt unwell on April 17 and went into the garden of her Moulton home holding an extension cable of an appliance and a pair of secateurs, according to the Spalding Voice.

Her husband of 24 years Richard Tell saw her run past the window on fire, but when he came out most of the flames were out and she tried to run away.

He caught her up the road and a passing motorist called the emergency services, who took her to hospital.

The inquest at Lincoln Coroners Court heard that she suffered burns to 83% of her body and died at the specialist burns unit in Broomsfield Hospital in Essex on April 19.

Coroner Tim Brennand read out a statement from Mr Tell, saying Zsuzsanna had become “quite excessive in relation to this item (coronavirus)”.

She was so convinced COVID-19 was a hoax that she would walk near people when on daily exercise. She thought it was a cover up for an “invasion by the Chinese or possibly Russians”.

The inquest heard that on April 12 the victim had bought several packs of prescriptions drugs and boarded up one of the windows. Mr Tell alerted their GP and a crisis team attended.

The health care workers found no evidence of psychosis and Mr Tell also said his partner had made no previous attempt on her life.

The coroner said it was a “tragic and somewhat surreal and bizarre case” and concluded a narrative verdict for the death.

He was “entirely satisfied this was a deliberate act”, but added that “on the issue of intent, I’m not satisfied that she was intending her life to be brought to an end”.