Family finds 'dead' daughter is alive

Police confused the woman with another who had died

Essex Police have apologised to a family who were told their daughter had died when she was actually safe and well.

Officers visited the home of Jimmy and Brenda Ambrose, from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, to inform them that their daughter Karen had died as a result of a drug overdose.

But shortly afterwards the couple found out she was still alive.

A police spokeswoman said: "The officers involved are extremely upset that such distress has been caused through this error and the matter will be subject to an internal review."

She said the error had been made because of confusion over the identity of a 31-year-old woman from nearby Shoeburyness who died last week.

The spokeswoman added: "This was a dreadful mistake for those involved and it is a matter we are treating very seriously."