Man dies at home in Eastbourne after taking drugs

An inquest on Thursday (August 13) heard Mark Smith, a veneer preparer, passed away at his home in Royal Sussex Crescent on January 14 this year.

Mr Smith had a catalogue of health problems including asthma, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, renal disease, blocked arteries in his heart and also suffered with anxiety.

A toxicology report identified cocaine and cannabis in Mr Smith’s system.

His family members attended the inquest and told East Sussex coroner Alan Craze that they thought Mr Smith had stopped taking drugs.

Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Craze said Mr Smith’s heart condition had been exacerbated by his use of cocaine.

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