A 'KIND-HEARTED' Winchester man was found dead at his home, an inquest heard.

Paul Martin, of Nelson Road, Highcliffe, died on November 14 2022. 

The inquest, on April 8 at Winchester Coroners' Court, heard that Mr Martin, 47, had been dependent on drugs and alcohol for many years. 

He had been admitted to the Royal Hampshire County Hospital on November 3 after he was found slumped in the street. After having an alcohol detoxification, he was discharged on November 11 with his usual prescription of drugs. 

However, he was found dead on November 14. Tracey Flanagan, Mr Martin's sister, provided a statement which was read out by senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson. 

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It said: “Paul had a troubled time in adulthood. He struggled with addiction. He was a very kind-hearted person. It was a shame he died in circumstances such as this.”

The inquest heard that a post mortem was carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Balvinder Shoker. A toxicology report found he was 1.2 times the drink drive limit. The cause of death was given as multi-drug toxicity. 

Mr Wilkinson concluded that Mr Martin's death was not as a result of an overdose. He said: “There is nothing to suggest he took the drugs in excess. It was the combination with the alcohol that proved fatal. This was an unintentional and unexpected death.”

The coroner said the death was accidental and gave his condolences to his family.