A man accused of leaving his former partner with critical injuries after an attempted strangulation on the Central Coast died in police custody on Friday after reportedly choking on a prison meal.

St Clair resident Lance Pearce, 34, was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly attempting to strangle and suffocate mother Blair Dalton, 35, to death at her Ettalong Beach home.

Ms Dalton suffered critical injuries as a result and died Wednesday night in Gosford Hospital after her family made the decision to switch off her life support.

Pearce, charged with her attempted murder, was found dead in his prison cell about 11am Friday.

Blair Dalton and Lance Pearce and the house where Ms Dalton was found injured.

He is believed to have choked to death on a “plastic-wrapped chicken sandwich”, the Daily Telegraph reports .

Pearce’s death has been deemed not suspicious and the exact cause will be confirmed following a post-mortem examination.

Pearce attended court Wednesday dressed in a white forensic jumpsuit and appeared to be very distressed, yelling several times "she has to be fine".

Blair Dalton has died overnight. (Facebook)

Supporters of Ms Dalton spoke to 9NEWS outside the court, with one man calling her “a good Aussie girl (who didn’t) deserve that”.

A neighbour, Teresa Robinson, said: "She was a strong, single mum who had a really fantastic sense of community”.

"She had a job she was enjoying, she was so good at her job that they transferred her from Sydney and let her work the hours she wanted to work.

"I have friends that are customers of hers, they just speak so highly of her."

Pearce, who shared a child with Ms Dalton, was expected to face upgraded charges at his next court appearance.

One of Ms Dalton’s family members posted to Facebook Wednesday night stating Ms Dalton’s organs would be donated.

"Our beautiful Blair who is always helping others will today continue on this path when the transplanting of her organs begin," her parents posted on Facebook.