Machine operator died of drugs-related death, inquest hears

Gurdeep Singh Briah, of Victoria Road, Oldbury, was rushed to hospital after he became unwell on December 28, Black Country Coroner's Court was told.

He had returned home the previous day with a high temperature, the court heard.

At Sandwell General Hospital, Mr Briah had a high-heart rate before he went into cardiac arrest.

Attempts to resuscitate him proved unsuccessful and he died that day.

Joanne Lees, the area coroner for the Black Country, said: "On February 27, his father reported that he returned home suffering a high temperature and was shivering.

"He had some Lemsip and went to bed. The following morning, he reported that he was OK but complained of a headache. Later that day, he started to deteriorate and his family called an ambulance."

Levels

A post-mortem found no particular cause of death, the court heard.

But a toxicology report found the presence of cocaine, cocaethylene and high levels on alcohol in his body.

He had 340 milligrams of alcohol in his blood. In comparison, the legal limit drink-drive is 80 milligrams, the court heard.

Cocaethylene is a substance that forms in the liver when alcohol and cocaine is used at the same time. It increases the heart rate and blood pressure.

Doctors decided his cause of death was multi-drug toxicity, the inquest was told.

Ms Lees said: "It is clear from the evidence that he had alcohol, cocaine and cocaethylene in his system at the time of death.

"Therefore, I will record a short-form death as being drug-related."

She added: "Can I offer my sincere condolences to his family."