Family's 'shock' at death of Wigan man after taking cocaine

Police broke into the home of Darren Hanton on the evening of August 25 amid concerns from members of his family.

They had not seen the 41-year-old for several days and he had not answered the door or calls to his phone, an inquest at Bolton Coroner’s Court heard.

When officers went inside the house on Wotton Drive in Ashton, they smelled “stale” alcohol and tobacco and discovered Mr Hanton’s body on the floor of the bedroom.

It appeared he may have fallen from the bed and landed next a radiator, the court heard.

Mr Hanton, who ran a waste recycling business with his father James Hanton, was described as being “very happy” and “larger than life”, enjoyed spending time with friends and family, and was an avid Manchester United supporter.

A post-mortem examination found the cause of his death was acute heart failure, with left ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial

scarring.

Cocaine was listed as a contributory factor, after an analysis of his blood revealed he had taken it before his death.

A toxicology report said: “Cocaine use, even in recreational amounts, may lead to cardiac toxicity, hence if there is evidence of a cardiac event, seizure or stroke, this may warrant consideration as a contributory factor.”

The inquest heard no drugs or drugs paraphernalia were found in Mr Hanton’s home and it was not possible to say when he had taken cocaine, but it did not appear to be immediately before he died.

His family was not aware he used drugs, describing the results of the blood sample analysis as a “shock and surprise”.

Coroner Timothy Brennand said: “It is clear that the use of cocaine has had a consequence in this case for it has rendered the deceased more susceptible to a fatal cardiac event, because of the side effects that cocaine usage, even in modest recreational amounts, can render the user susceptible to.

“This is a case that is a further stark example and reminder that recreational use of drugs such as cocaine, in whatever form and in whatever circumstances, increases the risk of a fatal cardiac event, and at his age of 41 the events that draw us together today have come as a complete shock to the deceased’s family.”

He recorded a narrative conclusion that Mr Hanton died from naturally occurring disease exacerbated by drug use.

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