A CORONER has ruled that a cocktail of six drugs was the cause of death of a 30-year-old Workington man.

Liam Hargreaves was found dead at the address of friend David Grettain on March 31 after overdosing on six different substances.

The inquest in Cockermouth yesterday heard how Mr Hargreaves had a history of drug abuse and had been making positive strides with Unity at the time of his death.

A statement read out on behalf of his mother, Lorraine Hargreaves, told the hearing how her son struggled after the death of his best friend and he turned to drugs after getting involved with “the wrong crowd”.

“Liam was a wonderful son. Not a day went by when he didn’t tell me he loved me,” the statement said.

It concluded: “He will be sorely missed by everyone.”

Mrs Hargreaves described how she last saw her son when she dropped him off on Coach Road in Whitehaven the night before his death.

In a police statement Mr Grettain said he found his friend lying unconscious after he’d gone for a walk for “about 20 minutes”.

He denied supplying Mr Hargreaves with any drugs and said the last time he had seen him was the day before his death.

Mr Grettain told police Mr Hargreaves had let himself into his John Street home in Workington, as it was always left unlocked.

When he returned from his walk Mr Grettain described seeing his friend lying on the floor holding a needle wrapper.

Mr Grettain and two others present at his house tried to resuscitate Mr Hargreaves and called an ambulance.

Mr Grettain told police he did not immediately notice Mr Hargreaves when he returned home and sat down on the sofa.

It was only when he got up to go to the toilet, Mr Grettain said, that he then noticed a man “hunched over” on the floor. Mr Hargreaves was pronounced dead at 10.29pm that night by paramedics.

The inquest heard that Mr Hargreaves had a history of depression and substance abuse.

Coroner Craig Smith said Mr Grettain’s account given to police “lacked detail”.

The toxicology report by Dr Stephen Mortley said Mr Hargreaves died of heroin, cocaine, Diazepam, clonazepam, Pregabalin and buprenorphine toxicity. None of the drugs were the single cause of death but a combination of the substances.