Body of alcoholic and drug user found in house

An alcoholic who also struggled with drug issues was found in a partially decomposed state at his home in Nelson.

Mr Michael Fisher (43) was discovered on May 31st at the house in Holly Street by his partner of three years Barbara McDermott.

An inquest at Burnley Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Fisher would drink 21 units of alcohol a day but had also developed a heroin problem.

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He had been seeking help from addiction clinic Inspire and was doing well, but had not attended in the weeks leading up to his death.

Miss McDermott told East Lancashire Coroner Mr Richard Taylor that her partner would drink a three litre bottle of cider and cans a day. He also suffered from epilepsy.

Pathologist Dr Muammer Al-Mudhaffer, who conducted the post-mortem examination, gave the cause of death as central nervous system depression as a result of morphine (heroin) use. There were high levels of alcohol and heroin in Mr Fisher’s blood.

Mr Taylor, recording a conclusion of drug-related death, said: “I don’t have any evidence that Mr Fisher intended to take his own life.

“He had a significant alcohol problem over the years and also misused heroin which sadly led to his death.”

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