Alcohol death of computer analyst who had depression

A DERBYSHIRE man died after drinking a “significant amount” of alcohol and choking to death, an inquest heard.

The body of Martin Cross was found by his half-sister in his bedroom at their home in Kirk Hallam on May 7 this year.

Emergency services attended the address in St Norbert Drive, but Mr Cross was pronounced dead at the scene. There were no suspicious circumstances and no evidence of suicide.

An inquest into his death at Derby Coroner’s Court yesterday was told that the 50-year-old had a history of mental health issues and alcohol misuse.

It heard that Mr Cross, who worked as a computer analyst, had spent time sober but had relapsed following a relationship break-up and moved in with his half-sister 18 months prior to his death.

In a statement read out in court by the coroner, she said they had argued the evening before after he had driven home while drunk.

Following this he had gone up to his room and when he did not get up the following morning she had gone upstairs to check on him and found him unresponsive.

She confirmed that he drank regularly and had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD by doctors.

A post-mortem examination determined his medical cause of death as gastric aspiration, which is when substances go into the windpipe or lungs instead of being swallowed into the oesophagus.

The pathologist ruled this had been caused by acute alcohol intoxication, with Mr Cross being found with a blood alcohol concentration that was three times the drink-drive limit.

Sophie Lomas, assistant coroner for Derby and Derbyshire, recorded a conclusion that Mr Cross’s death was alcohol related.

She said Mr Cross had gone through a “fairly long period of abstinence followed by a relapse”.

“He obviously had his problems with alcohol but he was holding down a job and he was well regarded with his programming. He is really missed.”