Accrington Observer

Inquest is told man died after taking a ‘toxic’ drug mixture

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JON MACPHERSON

APOPULAR man died after taking a toxic mixture of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamin­es and morphine, an inquest heard.

Michael Dennison, known as ‘Denny’, stopped breathing at his flat on Moorgate in Accrington last February - after going to a concert with his partner to celebrate her birthday.

Paramedics spent more than hour trying to revive and stabilise him but he died the next day at Royal Blackburn, aged 55.

Preston Coroners Court heard how the guillotine operator had previously had heart attacks and embolisms, was diagnosed with angina and had been suffering with shortness of breath.

Pathologis­t Dr Richard Prescott said a postmortem examinatio­n found ‘toxic’ levels of ecstasy, cocaine, amphetamin­es and morphine in his blood and the ‘effects multiplied exponentia­lly’.

Mr Dennison’s family told the inquest that he had never taken morphine before but did use ‘recreation­al drugs’.

Dr Prescott said: “If it’s the first time he has taken it then it’s a huge dose and fatal.”

Mr Dennison’s partner Laura Ware told the inquest they had gone to a gig in Manchester on February 25, and returned to his flat after 2am.

The inquest heard Mr Dennison drank ‘one or two’ cans of lager before his landlord came round and they were chatting and listening to music.

Ms Ware said Mr Dennison later fell asleep on the sofa for a few hours but she couldn’t say exactly for how long and she later became concerned when he wasn’t waking up.

She told the inquest that she found ‘ brown powder’ on the coffee table and around the same time he stopped breathing.

Ms Ware said she had not seen him take any drugs at the gig or since they returned to his flat.

Emergency services arrived at around 10.40pm and one paramedic found ‘teddy bear’ ecstasy tablets on another table.

A friend told the inquest: “We are very sad at the circumstan­ces. “He was a good man. “Even though he took drugs it didn’t mean he wasn’t a good friend and he was very loved.”

Coroner James Newman recorded a conclusion of misadventu­re.

He said: “There are difficulti­es in this case and there are inconsiste­ncies and matters that don’t entirely add up.

“We may never know the exact circumstan­ces of Denny’s death.”

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