Promising and ‘well-liked’ boxer died of overdose
A TALENTED boxer who showed great promise to forge a career in the sport tragically died of a drugs overdose years after he fell in with the wrong crowd, an inquest has heard.
Gareth James Bushbye, a former Bishop Vaughan Comprehensive pupil, was found dead on September 7 last year in a stairwell of a flats complex in Mackworth Court, off Orchard Street in Swansea city centre. He was 39.
An inquest into his death held at Swansea’s Guildhall heard how Mr Bushbye was originally from Scotland but moved to Swansea at a young age.
He became part of Montana Boxing Club and took to the sport very well, developing a real passion for it.
Another of his passions was found at school, where he enjoyed cooking and planned to make a career of it as a chef after leaving school.
He was described as very wellliked and a joker with a mischievous side.
Mr Bushbye fell in with the wrong crowd in the Blaenymaes area of Swansea while growing up, the hearing was told, and began smoking heavily and drinking alcohol.
He smoked cannabis, which became a gateway to other drugs.
The inquest heard how Mr Bushbye, of Alexandra Road, had a spell in prison but managed to turn his life around.
He joined the Warehouse gym in Cwmdu, Swansea, and took part in two white-collar boxing matches.
He achieved one year’s sobriety but later relapsed twice, returning to prison.
On the day of his death Mr Bushbye had visited a friend in the flats where he fell asleep and was later observed to be in a dazed state.
His body was later discovered in the stairwell of the complex.
The medical cause of his death was given as combined drugs toxicity.
Recording a conclusion of drugrelated death, acting senior coroner Colin Phillips said: “I can see he was a very well-liked individual and growing up he was skilled in boxing.
“Unfortunately people take different paths in life. His family tried to do what they could to help him, but sadly he slipped back in recent months. The drug-taking related to his tragic death.”