Man who died after Wolverhampton nightclub brawl had heart defect, inquest told

Gareth Jones was seen on CCTV to punch and then head butt two men outside the first-floor toilets in Club Babylon.

The inquest held yesterday heard that after being ejected from the North Street venue he walked to Queen Square where he collapsed in front of two friends at about 1am on November 18 last year,

Despite efforts by paramedics to save him, Mr Jones, of Clarence Road, in Bilston, died at 2.17am.

A report by pathologist Dr Nicolas Hunt said Mr Jones suffered ventricular cardiomyopath and exertions during the fight may have triggered his heart failure. A toxicology report had alcohol and therapeutic medication in his blood, but no illegal drugs.

Giving evidence at the hearing held in Smethwick Dc Tim Longbottom said: "What was immediately apparent from the CCTV was that Mr Jones was the aggressor.

"Mr Jones, who is in the image the biggest man by far in terms of stature, height and build, can be quite clearly seen to punch and head butt two smaller men.

"Both of them are immediately thrown to the ground and at this point Mr Jones' two friends join in. There is probably about 30 seconds of what you might call physical exertion during this disorder."

Dc Longbottom added: "Our minds were put at rest that the cause of death was probably not as a result of being assaulted or something suspicious."

Black Country Coroner Mr Robin Balmain recorded a verdict that Mr Jones died of natural causes.

Mr Jones's father Keith, aged 62, of Clarence Road in Bilston, defended his son and said he was not a violent man.

He said: "He wasn't a violent person. He was well liked and you could see that from the number of people who tried to help him out.

"He was only out that night because of his birthday, he hardly went out and was always in the house.

"Only five weeks before he had also got a new job buying clothes."

He added: "The family is hurt. We will never get over it."