Inquest reports massive drug overdose for party goer
A lethal cocktail of drink and drugs led to the death of Hayden Bowers, 27, of Princes Garden, and inquest heard.
He was found semi-naked in a hot tub at a luxury Bayswater flat on New Year's Day morning this year.
Toxicology showed he had taken cocaine, ecstasy and other drugs, including alcohol and cannabis.
Westminster Coroner's Court heard that he had become down following a break up with his girlfriend late in 2006 and had spent the Christmas period alone.
Described as a "popular, extrovert individual", the competitive swimmer and water polo player who was currently working as a builder arrived at the New Year's Eve party already "out of it".
Coroner's officer Elizabeth Riley said: "He had been out and about on New Year's eve. At approximately 5am on January 1, he attended a party in Lancaster Gate. The party had started at an earlier time. He went along with a friend."
Ms Riley added that his mother and friends had become concerned that he had started drinking more.
"Friends noticed his use of alcohol and recreational drugs had increased over the last eight months," she said.
Ms Riley went on: "At about 9am, he was seen in the hot tub, drinking from a champagne bottle. He had stripped down to his boxer shorts and got in there and was left alone. At 9.30am, he was found unresponsive."
He was taken to St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where he was pronounced dead.
"He had taken too much of a mixture of drugs," said Coroner Dr Paul Knapman. "Very often it is the mixture of drugs that makes a bad situation worse."
Dr Knapman did not rule the death as suicide as there was no evidence to show beyond any doubt that Mr Bowers had wanted to end his own life.
"I have to reflect on one thread that goes through the whole story and that thread is abuse of drugs," he said. "Hayden Bowers died of drug and alcohol intoxication."
The court ruled Mr Bowers' death a case of non-dependent abuse of drugs.
March 19, 2007
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