Homeless man died after being found on a bench in Eastbourne town centre

Liverpool-born Kevin Michael Sumner, 34, was found opposite TJ Hughes in April this year.

Passing police officers tried to revive him along with ambulance staff but he was taken to the intensive care unit at Eastbourne DGH and remained in a coma until his life support machine was switched off. He died on April 28.

An inquest into Mr Sumner’s death was held at Eastbourne Town Hall on Thursday (December 3).

East Sussex coroner James Healy-Pratt was told Mr Sumner was living on the streets of Eastbourne but during the coronavirus lockdown had been offered accommodation in the Strand Hotel on Marine Parade.

The inquest heard Mr Sumner had a history of heroin, cocaine, alcohol and cannabis addiction and that shortly before his death he had been involved in an altercation with other people living on the streets, although that was not linked to his death.

The inquest ruled Mr Sumner had died from multi-organ failure and heroin and alcohol toxicity.