Father-of-two, 34, died after drinking at football get-together with his friends watching the Euros

A FATHER-of-two, described by his wife as the “life and soul” of the party, died in Thatcham at a friend’s football get-together, an inquest heard.

Ian Christopher Martin of Faringdon, Oxfordshire, enjoyed drinking with friends, wife Leah Martin told the inquest, but his drinking habits changed as he struggled with his mental health.

At the inquest held on November 10, it was heard that Mr Martin, 34, consumed “copious amounts of alcohol” leading to his death on June 19, though the incident itself was unrelated to his mental health struggles.

Mrs Martin said that her husband’s death “could have been avoided if he had been taken seriously” and if his GP had “taken time to speak to him face to face rather than over the phone”.

She added: “Maybe my children would still have their father to kiss them goodnight, and see them on their first day of school.”

The inquest heard, from a statement given by Newbury police designated investigator Susan Bradshaw, that Mr Martin had attended a get-together in Thatcham to watch a Euro football match with nine friends.

The gathering was held at friend Laurence Ingram’s garage, converted to a gym, to which Mr Martin brought eight cans of lager with him, drinking four.

Mr Ingram told the police that along with the cans of lager, he also may have consumed shots and gin.

It was heard that Mr Martin had already fallen asleep as his friends dispersed at around 1.30am.

He remained in the garage overnight with Mr Ingram leaving a bottle of water with him, as well as turning on the security light and leaving the door unlocked should he wish to leave – something that was said not to be unusual.

It wasn’t until 8.30am the next morning when Mr Ingram came downstairs to check on his friend that he discovered he was no longer breathing, the inquest was told.

Mr Ingram’s father David assisted his son in calling the ambulance and performing CPR, following paramedic instructions.

He noticed a new empty bottle of gin near to where Mr Martin lay.

The South Central ambulance arrived in three minutes, but could not revive Mr Martin.

A post mortem report found the cause of death to be alcohol toxicity, with the toxicology report showing an alcohol level of 372 milligrams per 100ml of blood – which is four to five times above the drink-drive limit.

Around 400 milligrams and over is normally associated with death, the inquest heard.

It was heard at the inquest that Mr Martin had previously admitted to having a problem with drinking and had had some contact with NHS services, including cognitive behavioural therapy.

By November last year, the inquest heard, he was discharged back to the care of his GP and from that point on there was no contact between the patient and his GP in regards to mental health.

Though he had been struggling with anxiety and depression, assistant Berkshire coroner Alison McCormick found that Mr Martin’s death was not mental health induced.