A UK student drank 30 shots of vodka at a notorious boozing hotspot before stumbling down a steep embankment and falling into murky water where she died, an inquest heard.

Caroline ‘Carrie’ Everest, 18, was found face up in a river following a night out at popular student venue Corporation in Sheffield, South Yorks., which she had drunk five pints of a drink called ‘Purple’ made up of toxic volumes of spirits.

A post-mortem found she had 252 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of blood.

Forensic Pathologist Dr Naomi Carter told Sheffield Coroner’s Court, “She had taken in a very high or extreme amount of alcohol for someone of her size and average drinker.”

Coroner Christopher Dorries ruled a verdict of accidental death, adding: “Some things just remain a mystery and I rule Carrie’s death as accidental death.”

The court heard that on the day before her death, Saturday November 21 last year, Carrie had gone to work at Meadowhall Shopping Centre just outside Sheffield.

She spoke to her mum and told her that she was not sure she would go out that evening. But after finishing work she had spoken to two old school friends at around 9pm, and later met them at around 10.40pm before they headed to Corporation nightclub in the city.

Eye-witness accounts from her friends described it as a “normal night” out in the club.

But in the early hours of Sunday (November 22) Carrie asked her two friends if they wanted to stay at her accommodation in Halford House and they declined the invite at around 2.10am.

Carrie left the club alone shortly after, at around 2.40am, and that was the last time they saw her.

The court heard that CCTV captured Carrie walking along the street before she was joined by Algerian national Yousef Tarfasi, 31, who gave her his jumper.

The two had taken a taxi ride together - but when police spoke to Tarfasi and showed him pictures of Carrie, he denied being with the girl because he feared he would go to prison, the court was told.

The court heard that Carrie’s final images on CCTV show her alone walking alone towards the direction of where her body was found, before the cameras caught a silhouette of her knelt on a wall.

Describing the CCTV footage, South Yorkshire PC Joanne Glaves said: “The last images we see of Caroline is a dark figure we know is her sat on a wall with her legs facing forward.

“It was like she was knelt on the wall and then we can see her then jump over the side onto the steep embankment - those are the last images we see.”

Around 3pm that day, cops found her shoes on the embankment in Porter Brook, Sheffield, and her body nearby in the river.

As the last person to speak to Carrie, Tarfasi was arrested on suspicion of rape and questioned by the police. But he denied ever meeting her.

The court heard that he had been spotted with Carrie and had their arms around each other on CCTV before they took a taxi together which had a gap of around 30 minutes.

Tarfasi, who could only speak in broken English, appeared at the coroner’s court to give evidence.

Using an interpreter, he said he had been at a salsa club in the city centre and wanted to get home so he and Carrie shared a taxi.

Speaking to Tarfasi, Coroner Dorries asked: “Did you have sex with her?”

He replied: “No, I did not.”

Mr Dorries the asked: “So then why did you not tell the story to the police?”

Tarfasi, who was wearing a brown leather jacket, replied: “I thought I was going to go to prison if I said I knew her.

“We took a taxi at Corp [Corporation] and then we both got out because I did not have enough money - I only have £4 (AU$8).”

At the end of his evidence, Carrie’s father Chris Everest told Mr Tarfasi: “I would like to thank you for coming here and telling the truth.

“I would like to thank you for helping Carrie and I am sure if you said you liked salsa dancing - then I am sure she would have got in the taxi with you.”

Carrie’s mum Val Harding told the court that after going through bank statements, she knew her daughter had only taken £15 (AU$30) with her on the night out.

Speaking to the court about the amount of alcohol Corporation nightclub put in their drinks, Managing Director Mark Hobson said: “We only put three shots of vodka in the drink which is £3.60 (AU$7) and the mixer is free to make the colour purple.

“There are lots of different mixers we sell and it ranges to make various colours of the rainbow.

“Upon hearing the news of Carrie’s death - a lot of my members of staff were upset with what they heard in the press.”

Asked about what happens when a punter has had too much to drink, Mr Hobson replied: “When someone is too drunk we give them water.

“On that night in particular, one or maybe two people gave Carrie water.

“From what I have been told about that evening - from what she drank I think there could have been pre-drinking involved.”

He added: “We get a lot of that at our club.”

Despite Carrie’s genitalia showing lacerations “around the vulva region”, Forensic Pathologist Dr Carter said: “The lacerations could be hours or even days old.

“I would not say they would have just happened, but difficult to tell because the body had been in water for quite a while.”

Speaking about her examination of Carrie’s body, Dr Carter said: “I would say that she was suffering from hypothermia at the time and that would fit the description of her wearing clubbing clothes.”

Speaking about the alcohol levels of someone in the cold, Dr Carter said: “A reason for the taking off of clothes and boots in this case is something called paradox undressing.

“This is because the alcohol flushes the capillaries in the body which makes it believe that it is warm when it actually isn’t.

“High alcohol levels and the cold temperature outside would have contributed to hypothermia.”

Speaking about what she believed the cause of Carrie’s death, Dr Carter said: “From my first report hypothermia and immersion in water would be the main factors and a second would be caused by alcohol intoxication.”

Summing up the inquest today (Wed), Mr Dorries said: “From what I have heard today I know that Carrie did not try and take her own life.

“Her shoes were found nearby to her body and there were no other marks or bruises on her body to determine there was a struggle.

“There are things that we just do not know, therefore I come to the conclusion of accidental death.”

Upon the verdict of the hearing, her family gave a statement hailing Carrie asa “warm, friendly and energetic young lady”.

It read: “Carrie was a warm, friendly and energetic young lady. Unfortunately her life was ended far too soon. She had so many plans for the future - her course at Sheffield Hallam University and her love for dancing at City Limits.

“It is sad that a nigh out with friends should end so tragically - a series of Unfortunate events.

“Carrie is constantly in our thoughts and is missed by everyone.

“It was an absolute joy and pleasure to have had her in our lives - and we will never ever forget her bewitching smile.”

South Yorkshire Police ruled that following the inquest no more action will be taken against Tarfasi - and the case is now closed.