Man died from mix of legal and illegal drugs
ARUNCORN man who died after taking a mix of prescription and illicit drugs has been remembered as a ‘lovely’ person with a ‘big heart’ following an inquest into his death.
Warrington Coroner’s Court heard last Wednesday as the Weekly News was going to press that Ross Lovell, 36, of Canal Street, was found by his friend Peter Apostolidis after the deceased had fallen asleep on Mr Apostolidis’s couch at his flat on Irwell Lane the night before.
Toxicology tests conducted by Donna Cameron found traces of prescription medications such as omrapezole for heartburn consistent with low or therapeutic doses.
Also found was cocaine – but with no dosage determined due to how fast the substance breaks down, and pregabalin at therapeutic levels.
Potentially key substances found were a quantity of the sedative diazepam which suggested ‘excessive’ use not long before death and which could cause reduced breathing, and also the illicit drug amphetamine.
The inquest heard that amphetamine can cause effects such as convul
● sions, fast heart rate, unconsciousness, respiratory failure, heart attacks, and brain haemorrhage.
Heath Westerman, acting coroner for Cheshire, read a post mortem examination summary of pathologist Dr Nawal Alash, who concluded – with the benefit of the toxicology findings – that the deceased had died due to cardiotoxicity, caused by cocaine use and the therapeutic use of antipsychotic and antianxiety drugs.
Ross had started taking drugs aged 20 and had sought help on occasions, occasionally presenting at emergency departments following an overdose only to discharge himself before treatment.
He had also been referred for a variety of recovery services but would sometimes miss or turn down follow-up appointments.
Last year he visited hospital with a ‘minor brain injury’ after a fall. His habit was estimated to cost him around £120 a week. He had also tried to jump off a bridge in 2016 while under the influence of cocaine and alcohol.
In recent years he had struggled with addiction to amphetamine and in 2015 was diagnosed with mental and behavioural problems including ‘possibly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder’.
Angela Thomson, his mother, told the inquest that Ross has never expressed any intent to take his own life, but had said he expected his life to end before his mum’s.
She said: “The only thing he used to say is he would die before me.
“I used to worry about what would happen to him after I died. “He said ‘don’t worry Mum, I’ll be dead before you’.”
She said his family did not know about the extent of his drug use.
Mrs Thomson said: “He didn’t tell us and we would offer help and he was just hard to help.
“He just did his own thing.”
In a written statement read to the court, Mr Apostolidis said he was aware of Ross’s prescription drug use.
He said he had put a duvet over him when he saw him asleep on the couch the night before.
When he woke at 2pm the next day, he found Ross sat up but face down.
His hands were cold and Mr Apostolidis rang 999, with the ambulance service directing him to perform CPR until their arrival 10 minutes later, and he ‘struggled to watch’ the paramedics at work and was told to wait in the hall.
Mr Apostolidis expressed sadness over his friend’s passing.
The pair used to watch films on television together.
He said: “I miss his company and wish there was something more I could have done to help on that day.”
Police ruled out suspicious circumstances.
Mr Westerman gave a conclusion that Ross Lovell, 36, died on Irwell Lane on January 30, due to cardiotoxicity caused by cocaine use and the use of antipsychotic and antianxiety drugs.
The death was ruled to be drug-related.
Speaking after the hearing, family members recalled Ross as someone with a ‘big heart’ who would ‘help anyone’.
Abbie Miller described him as a ‘lovely person’ and Angela Thomson said he was ‘a good lad really’.