A troubled army veteran battling childhood trauma died after accidentally consuming a lethal concoction of drugs, an inquest has heard.

Christopher Heffron, 48, was found with a mix of substances in his system – including over the counter medication – when examined at post-mortem following a fatal ‘bingeing’ session with a friend.

An inquest in Winchester last week heard that paramedics discovered him unresponsive on the floor of his City Road accommodation at 7.20pm on Christmas Eve, 2020.

Statements from both police and Southern Central Ambulance Service confirmed drug paraphernalia was also found in the room alongside a quantity of cannabis.

PC Mike Horton said he was thought to have been with his friend, Adam Pieri, at the time of the incident.

The inquest was told Mr Heffron grew up in Liverpool as part of a catholic family and suffered ‘extreme and violent’ childhood abuse which caused him continued trauma.

He later joined the army and served in Belfast during the troubles. However, he had his contract terminated after being caught using cannabis.

A report from Mr Heffron’s psychiatrist said he had been diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder and suffered from symptoms verging on PTSD as a result of his past – often reliving the events in his sleep.

READ MORE: What happens at an inquest and what can the press report?

He used drugs as a coping mechanism and had a long-standing issue with substance abuse which stretched back to when he was a teenager.

The inquest was told he had tried to take his own life several times and had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act. His habits often led him to commit ‘petty crime’ in order to fund his ‘chaotic’ lifestyle.

Despite having accommodation, he would sometimes choose to sleep rough. Social services and police were also made aware he had experienced ‘cuckooing’, a process in which drug dealers prey on vulnerable victims in order to sell from their property.

An investigation was ordered by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust to see if they could have done more to prevent Mr Heffron’s death. But the inquest determined staff persisted to offer him outreach opportunities, which, due to his addiction and lifestyle, he failed to consistently attend.

Despite this, Mr Heffron was described by staff as ‘charming and friendly’, and they noted he had expressed a desire to turn his life around in the months before his death.

The inquest heard he was a ‘kind and intelligent’ man and an ‘amazing artist’ that would often lend money to friends which they wouldn’t repay, leaving him destitute.

A statement read out on behalf of Mr Heffron’s daughter, Chloe, said he was ‘very much loved’ but drifted from his family due to his life choices, despite their best efforts to support him.

Coroner Rosamund Rhodes-Kemp heard that Mr Heffron had taken a mix of drugs.

A report compiled from the post-mortem found the drugs, including heroin, had caused a central nervous system and respiratory depression which starved his lungs and brain of oxygen.

Although the combination of drugs was ruled to be potentially deadly on its own, Mr Heffron also suffered from an untreated lung condition. His death was ruled as accidental.

Mrs Rhodes-Kemp said: “I don’t think Mr Heffron intended to take his life on this occasion, it appeared to be a binge with a friend, but the combination of drugs that he took was one he wasn’t going to survive.

“It is of note that he had an extremely violent upbringing which still haunted him, and he used drugs to cope. He also struggled with quite significant mental health difficulties which I suspect may have arisen from that trauma.”

Helplines

If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers

You can call the Samaritans on 116 123

Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org

Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk 

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065 uksobs.org