A housing association worker was stabbed in the heart at a retirement village before dying after she tried to drive herself to hospital, an inquest has heard. 

Eleanor Barnfield, 47, a mother-of-two, was found inside her car in Bridgend, south Wales, on October 19 after allegedly being attacked while at work.

She had been trying to reach the Princess of Wales Hospital a mile-and-a-half away, but crashed after 300 yards and collided into a wall. 

An inquest opening at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court today heard Ms Barnfield’s provisional cause of death was a ‘stab wound to the trunk involving the heart’.

The coroner’s officer told the hearing: ‘South Wales Police received a report of a road traffic collision in Bridgend on the 19th October 2026.

‘The driver, Eleanor Barnfield was found to have a stab wound to her chest by attending paramedics.’

The court heard Ms Barnfield was taken to hospital, where she later died.

Cardiff Crown Court previously heard the alleged attack took place at Ger-Y-Nant sheltered accommodation.

Clifford Foster, 61, who lived at the complex, has appeared in court charged with murder.

Eleanor Barnfield had been trying to reach the Princess of Wales Hospital a mile-and-a-half away, but crashed after travelling 300 yards

Emergency services are pictured at the scene of the crash in south Wales. The incident reportedly left locals ‘shaken’

Forensics are pictured at the scene. Locals also reported seeing riot vans and armed officers, with some residents saying they were asked to ‘sign in and out’ of their homes

He was remanded into custody ahead of a plea and trial preparation hearing on November 23.

Ms Barnfield has been described by her family as the ‘most loving’ mother and ‘bravest person in the world’.

In a tribute issued through police previously, they said: ‘She meant everything to us and will be forever loved and missed deeply by her devoted family and friends. She was our rock.’

Ambulance chiefs have denied Ms Barnfield faced a three-hour wait for help before trying to drive herself to hospital.

Neighbours had claimed she made the decision after being told there was a lengthy ambulance delay.

The Welsh Ambulance Service Trust said at the time: ‘The Welsh Ambulance Service were called on Monday at approximately 12:44pm, to reports of a road traffic collision on Coity Road, Bridgend.

‘A Cymru High Acuity Response Unit arrived on scene seven minutes after the initial call at 12:51pm, with two emergency ambulances arriving to provide additional support at 13:07pm and 13:13pm.

‘Advanced critical care support was delivered by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service who arrived in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.

‘The patient was conveyed by road to hospital.

‘We are aware that contradictory and misleading rumours regarding a delayed ambulance response have been circulating on social media.

The scene outside the Ger-y-Nant retirement home after Ms Barnfield was allegedly attacked

‘These are factually untrue and we would encourage members of the public not to speculate.’

A spokesman for the trust later added: ‘Following preliminary investigations by the Welsh Ambulance Service, the Trust has been unable to identify any calls from Eleanor Barnfield’s phone numbers.

‘Enquiries are ongoing to establish if any calls were received by other means.’

The Ger-Y-Nant property is run by Housing Association Valleys to Coast who said they were ‘devastated’ by her death.

They added: ‘Eleanor was a much-valued member of the Valleys to Coast team, and her loss has been deeply felt by everyone who knew and worked alongside her.

‘She made an important contribution to our organisation and to the communities we serve, and she will be remembered with great warmth and affection by her colleagues.

‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Eleanor’s family and friends at this unimaginably difficult time. We are doing everything we can to support those affected by her loss.

‘We continue to cooperate fully with South Wales Police and, out of respect for Eleanor’s family and the ongoing investigation, we will not be commenting further on the circumstances of her death at this time.’

Coroner Rachel Knight adjourned the investigation pending the end of criminal investigations.