A DEATH probe heard a disabled woman was found dead in a bath while her support worker was “extremely upset.”

Margaret Gilchrist was found in the bath in her home at Carntyne Road, Glasgow on September 26, 2013.

The woman received care in supported accommodation from Enable Glasgow along with another woman who suffered from epilepsy.

The fatal accident inquiry at Glasgow Sheriff Court heard that her learning disability was “lifelong” and that she had had epilepsy, but in 2013 had been fit free for a period and was no longer on medication.

PC James McDonald was called to the sudden death of Miss Gilchrist - a 50-year-old woman with severe learning disabilities, who was registered blind and had a history of epilepsy.

He told the inquiry today that he and his colleague received a call around 8.10pm and arrived there minutes later.

PC McDonald said he spoke to ambulance staff at the house and saw a woman, Mary Cameron who he understood to be working there.

Procurator fiscal depute Brian Duffy asked what Mrs Cameron was like and the officer said: “She was sitting down getting comforted by two ambulance staff, she was extremely upset.”

Mr Duffy asked the officer what he and the ambulance staff discussed.

The witness replied: “That a female, Miss Gilchrist was dead within the bathroom area upstairs.”

He said he was told their initial thought was that it was suspicious and that it appeared Rigor mortis had begun to set in and the woman appeared to have scald marks on her body.

PC McDonald described the woman in the bath as having her back facing the window in the bathroom, her knees appeared curled up towards her stomach and her hands were clenched, towards her chest.

He added: “Certain places, her shoulders, her sides and knee area I believe and her toe appeared to be scalded.”

He said there was a “small trickle” of cold water coming from the tap.

Occupational therapist Barbara Anderson told the inquiry there was a risk if Miss Gilchrist was left alone in a bath.

She was asked by advocate Kenneth Gibson, representing Mrs Cameron, that if there was only one support worker and Miss Gilchrist in the bath, what risks would there be to her if the support worker had to deal with the other resident in the house having a seizure.

Mrs Anderson said there is the risk anybody with a learning disability would have and that someone should always be with her.

Asked to be specific, she said: “She (Margaret) could try to come out of the bath, she could cover herself in water, she could slide down in to it.”

The inquiry before sheriff Lindsay Wood continues.