Park man’s death was drug related, inquest told

A MAN found dead in a Cardiff park died after taking drugs, an inquest has heard.

Garden designer Edgars Dzilna, 39, was found in Bute Park earlier this year.

An inquest at Pontypridd Coroner’s Court was yesterday told he was known to use drugs.

At the hearing, assistant coroner Graeme Hughes read a statement on behalf of Mr Dzilna’s partner.

The statement read: “I have known him for about 18 years.

“Edgars has been in the UK since about 1997. He is originally from Latvia.

“He was diagnosed as HIV positive around six years ago and was managing it well.

“He was a recreational drug user and would be unpredictable when he took drugs. He liked cocaine, m-cat and poppers.”

The court heard Mr Dzilna was last seen the day before he died after doing some work at a friend’s house.

His body was found in Bute Park the following day by a passer-by named David Gomer.

Mr Gomer provided a statement to the court regarding the incident.

It read: “I was on my way to work in Bute Park. I took my usual route through Sophia Gardens. “I saw a man face down. “I saw a syringe and contacted 999 from my mobile phone.”

A post-mortem examination conducted by pathologist Dr Tom Hockey confirmed there was cocaine and Cobicistat – a drug used to treat HIV – detected in the body.

Mr Hughes accepted these findings when he concluded the inquest of Mr Dzilna, of Sanctuary Court, Cardiff.

Mr Hughes said: “I will record that Mr Dzilna died on May 8, 2018, in Bute Park in Cardiff.

“He was working as a garden designer. The conclusion as to how he come about his death was that it was drug related.”