A TRANSGENDER woman accidentally hanged herself while she was performing a sex act on camera.

Zoe O’Brien, 39, tied a rope which was attached to the ceiling around her neck while she performed a sex act on herself and took pictures.

But she got into difficulty and accidentally hanged herself.

Neighbours found Miss O’Brien dead hanging from her bedroom ceiling in Staplefield Drive, Brighton, on June 7.

An inquest at Brighton and Hove Coroner's Court heard her live-in landlord Steve Hunter, who was on holiday at the time, became concerned when he had not seen Miss O’Brien all day on motion cameras installed in the kitchen.

He then asked neighbours with a spare key to check on her, who found her hanging from a nylon rope attached to an anchor point in the middle of her bedroom ceiling, infront of a camera on a tripod.

She was later declared dead by paramedics at the scene.

Police officers found a remote control for the camera and the images downloaded onto a computer in her room, which was filled with bondage equipment.

The last image they found was timestamped June 6 at 9.50pm.

Detective sergeant Chris Lane said in a statement: “Based on my findings no other person was present when she died, and no suicide note was found.

“I suspect she killed herself accidentally while taking photos.”

Erotic asphyxiation is the intentional restriction of oxygen to the brain for sexual arousal.

Hanging, suffocation with a plastic bag and self-strangulation are among the ways self-bondage enthusiasts get their kicks.

Consultant pathologist Dr Mark Taylor said she observed a ligature on the upper neck caused by the rope.

The cause of death was hanging.

Assistant coroner for Brighton and Hove Catharine Palmer ruled Miss O’Brien’s did not mean to cause her own death and it was misadventure.

She said: “I am satisfied she was conducting an act in the privacy of her own home and and was alone.

"The fact she was alone meant if things did go wrong there was no one there to help her.”

O’Brien was previously known as Gary Burke before she transitioned to become a woman.

In a statement, Zoe O’Brien’s father Peter Burke said: “All she wanted 
was to be accepted as a female but she struggled with that aspect of life. 

“She increasingly found it hard to go out because of the attitude of others. 

“It is heartening she had people in her life like her landlord who was a supportive friend to her over many years. 

“We want to express thanks to those who cared about her wellbeing. 

“As Zoe’s father I never imagined I would organise my child’s funeral. 

“All I want to say is rest in peace till I see you again.”

She also leaves her mother Janet Burke and brother Matthew.