Backache led to overdose of painkillers

A FACTORY worker died when he accidentally took a massive overdose of a prescription-only painkiller for his chronic backache.

Daniel Richardson, aged 31, had nearly nine times the recommended level of Tramadol in his system.

An inquest heard it was not known from where he had got Tramadol as it had not been prescribed by his GP.

He had been given Co-codamol by his doctor for his backache and at the time had expressed concern to her about the amount of painkillers he was taking.

Birmingham Coroner’s Court was told a post-mortem found he had extremely high levels of Tramadol – a very powerful prescription-only painkiller – in his system after he was found dead in bed by his partner on December 1

Coroner Emma Brown recorded a conclusion of accidental death.

She said: “We don’t know for certain, but there is a strong probability that Daniel took too many Tramadol and accidentally overdosed.”