A MAN who died at his father’s home in Bodelwyddan had consumed a number of drugs in the lead-up to his death, an inquest concluded.
Mark Andrew Thomas died aged 36 on August 15, 2022 after both his partner and father found him unresponsive that morning.
Kate Sutherland, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, recorded a cause of death of bronchopneumonia due to combined drug toxicity.
At a full inquest held in Ruthin today (April 19), Ms Sutherland said there was “absolutely no evidence” that Mr Thomas had intended to take his life.
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Born in October 1985 in Lincoln, Mr Thomas was one of five siblings, unmarried, and a former pupil of Denbigh High School.
He lived most of his life in St Asaph, went on to do security and factory work, and hoped to pursue a career in performing arts.
A statement from Police Constable Melanie Smith read that, on the date in question, she was called to a property on Ffordd Terfyn following reports of a deceased male.
When she arrived, she said she found residents of the address stood on the driveway with a young child, and Mr Thomas lying on the floor on his back.
The property was that of Mr Thomas’ father, but he and his partner had been staying there at the time.
Mr Thomas’ partner said she had left him to smoke cannabis downstairs when she went to bed the night before, but that he did not awake the next morning.
PC Smith said that, while in the living room, Mr Thomas’ father and partner were “clearly very upset, and hugging and kissing him”, but every time they touched his body, vomit would pour out of his mouth.
Having been unable to be revived, Mr Thomas was pronounced deceased at 12.20pm.
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A further statement, provided by his sister, Jade, said that his “lifestyle, in the months leading up to his death, I feel, wasn’t very healthy”, and that he “didn’t look like the brother I knew”.
On August 18, a post-mortem examination was carried out, which found nothing of note to indicate a death by natural causes.
Metabolites of cocaine, present at a level above the drug-driving limit equivalent, were found in his blood, while cannabis was also detected in his urine.
Among numerous other drugs found in Mr Thomas, trace amounts of quetiapine, an antipsychotic used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder, was also discovered.
Dr Muhammad Aslam, a consultant pathologist at Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, who undertook Mr Thomas’ post-mortem, said it showed features of severe bronchopneumonia.
The multiple drugs found in Mr Thomas’ system had combined to enhance each other’s effects, it was deemed.
This, Dr Aslam said, would have resulted in shallow breathing, aspiration and bronchopneumonia.
Ms Sutherland reached the conclusion of a drug-related death, and offered her condolences to the numerous loved ones of Mr Thomas in attendance at the inquest.
She said: “The number of you here today clearly shows the love you had for him. He had the rest of his life to live.
“But I hope that you come to remember the memories and good times you had with him, when the time allows.
“My sincerest condolences following this terribly tragic loss.”
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