A MAN with a history of drug use who was found dead at his flat in Rhyl had “changed his life around”, an inquest into his death heard.

David Phillip Earnshaw was found dead aged 50 in his room at Ty Golau, an emergency homeless accommodation on Clwyd Street, Rhyl, on September 9, 2023.

At the resumption of the inquest in his death, held in Ruthin today (June 19), Kate Robertson, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, gave a conclusion of drug-related death.

Mrs Robertson provided a medical cause of death of cardiorespiratory failure due to combined drug toxicity.

Born in Manchester, Mr Earnshaw had previously spent time in prison, and was known to police for illegal substance abuse – he had also suffered a heart attack in the past due to drug use.

However, his sister, Katie Rose Roy, said that her brother had “changed his life around” six years before his death, and had stopped using drugs and had a degree in a form of design – designing chairs in Mochdre for a time.

At the time of his death, he was unemployed, and living and being cared for at the homeless shelter.

The inquest heard Mr Earnshaw would go to the Salvation Army in Rhyl for medication, and had been “doing well” since quitting drugs.

A few weeks prior to his death, he kept falling asleep while on holiday with his family, which Ms Roy said had “concerned” her, but that he “did not appear in any pain”.

She last saw Mr Earnshaw on September 6, when he again fell asleep during tea.

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He had been due to visit again the next day, but cancelled and went for a “few pints” in Rhyl on September 8.

Mr Earnshaw, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, did not answer his sister’s phone calls on September 9, at which point her partner went to see him and on arrival was told he had died by police.

Staff had conducted a welfare/concern for safety check on September 9, and upon receiving no response, found him in his room at approximately 6.40pm.

A burnt metal pipe, recognised as drug paraphernalia, was found in his room by paramedics and police.

No physical injuries or signs of disturbance were found, and there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances in his death.

A post-mortem examination was carried out by Dr Mohammed Aslam, a consultant pathologist at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, which found congestion in his lung, traces of methadone in his blood, evidence of “recent cocaine use” and a low level of alcohol.

There was no evidence of heroin use in the hours leading up to his death.

The “combined effects” of these drugs exaggerated the effects of each, resulting in cardiorespiratory failure.

Ms Roy said her brother was a “kind-hearted person deep down and we miss him so much”.

Concluding, Mrs Robertson said there was “no evidence that there was any intention from David to end his life”, but that his “history of illicit drug use” had contributed to his death.

Returning a short form conclusion of a drug-related death, she added: “I would like to pass on my sincerest condolences to David’s sister and the wider family.”