A synthetic drug has been blamed for the death of a West Cumbrian man.

Karl Stephen Sharkey, who lived in Workington, took the synthetic cannabis, known as spice, shortly before it – and other legal highs – were outlawed.

The Whitehaven window cleaner, who also cleaned at the Marchon Club, died at the West Cumberland Hospital on May 2, the day after collapsing at a friend’s house.

Senior coroner David Roberts heard that Mr Sharkey, who was living in Salterbeck Road, was planning to stay the night in Whitehaven on Sunday, May 1 ready for work the following day, as there would be no buses early enough to take him there on the bank holiday.

But the 28-year-old ended up taking both cannabis and synthetic cannabis substitute spice – a move which proved fatal.

The inquest heard that Mr Sharkey had walked to Woodhouse from the town centre about his precise movements after that are not clear.

Friend Jamie Branthwaite and his father Ronald described Mr Sharkey arriving at their home in Fell View Avenue, sitting down and immediately collapsing.

Mr Branthwaite said: “It happened within seconds. I didn’t even have time to have a fag or anything with him.”

Mr Sharkey’s father added: “Everything happened so fast. He was a great lad.”

Postmortem tests showed he had died from cardiac arrest and aspiration of stomach contents.

Mr Sharkey’s mother, Donna Iceton, said her son knew the risks of taking spice.

She added: “Karl knew he wasn’t supposed to take it. He took no notice of us.

“He was easily led but he knew what he was doing.”

Mr Roberts recorded that Mr Sharkey’s death was the result of misadventure.

He said: “People don’t know what’s in this spice stuff. They haven’t a clue.

“It’s quite clear from the toxicology evidence that anyone who takes this stuff is taking a huge risk with their life.

“Karl was one of the victims. It would be a great shame if we were to have more deaths of young men and women from that drug.”