Sick man’s drugs death

A terminally ill man found dead in his flat had taken a heroin substitute, an inquest heard. Andrew Bibby, of Milton Street in Maidstone, was diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) several years before, and was told he did not have long to live. The 51-year-old’s body was found in bed on May 22 by a friend dropping off groceries. He attempted CPR, which was continued by paramedics until they were made aware of a ‘do not resuscitate’ order. An inquest at Archbishop’s Palace last Thursday heard police found a considerable amount of prescribed and nonprescribed medication in the flat, including cannabis. A post-mortem found Mr Bibby died of severe emphysema and a heart condition. The presence of a small amount of methadone, a drug used as a substitute in the treatment of heroin addiction, was found to have contributed to his death, along with a stroke. The plant operator was last seen alive by two carers who had been visiting him since his discharge from hospital a week before. He had been admitted suffering from shortness of breath.