An “outgoing” and talented DJ died after taking prescription medication, an inquest heard.
Lisa Helena Zarecky, who lived in London, regularly travelled to Swansea to perform at parties and events and was "well-loved" among her friends, family, and the local and national music scene, an inquest at Swansea Coroners' Court heard on Tuesday.
After DJing at a “livestream party” in Swansea in May last year she stayed over at a friend’s house. In the morning her friend found her unresponsive and she was later pronounced dead by paramedics.
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The inquest heard 48-year-old Ms Zarecky had been in a car crash in 2014 and prescribed a range of medications for the “terrible” back pain she experienced as a result. At the time of her death she had many prescriptions medications in her system as well as drugs she did not have a prescription for, the inquest heard.
The inquest heard Ms Zarecky was born in Aldershot, England, and spent much of her youth moving around Europe as her father was in the armed forces including stints in Germany, Oxford, and Cyprus.
She had a keen interest in music from a young age and also loved kickboxing, the inquest heard, and she studied music at college in Oxford and then at university.
Ms Zarecky settled in London after university and worked as a DJ, regularly travelling across the UK and beyond to perform at parties and events. Over the last decade she took up many ‘residencies’ in Swansea, Bristol, and London and would usually stay with friends when she’d visit Swansea.
In 2014 Ms Zarecky was in a car crash in London, the inquest heard. Her car was stationary when another vehicle drove into the side of her car and collided with her causing her a back injury that later required surgery.
This incident had a "profound impact on the rest of her life," the inquest heard, and Ms Zarecky regularly experienced intense pain in her back for years afterwards. It was also noted that she once had an extended stay in hospital after she caught an infection while being treated for her back.
Over the course of the Covid pandemic Ms Zarecky became “withdrawn” and stopped exercising, choosing instead to spend much of her time in her bedroom. In a statement read to the inquest her family said they saw a “significant shift in her demeanour”.
Nevertheless she had been looking forward to performing at a “live-stream” party in Swansea and drove down to the city on May 21, 2021, and stayed overnight at her friend Owain Jones’ home in Mount Pleasant.
The following day the pair enjoyed a day out before going to their friend Jamie Griffiths’ home for the live-stream party.
Ms Zarecky’s DJ set at the party went well and her brother watched the live-stream from his home. In a statement read during the inquest he said it was “wonderful to see Lisa enjoying herself”.
The inquest heard Ms Zarecky and Mr Jones returned to the latter’s home at around 3am and spent some time chatting before going to bed with Mr Jones in his room and Ms Zarecky on the sofa.
The following day Mr Jones found her lying on the sofa with her eyes open. She did not appear to be breathing.
He immediately called 999 and the call handler directed him on how to perform CPR. When paramedics arrived they confirmed Ms Zarecky had died.
The inquest heard she was found with an assortment of medications near her and her death was passed to South Wales Police for investigation.
The officer in charge of the case, PC Sophie Davies, told the inquest Ms Zarecky’s death was not suspicious and police found no evidence of foul play or third-party involvement during their investigation.
On June 14 officers carried out a forensic examination on items recovered from the scene and found an extensive list of medication including codeine, paracetamol, pregabalin, diazepam, and other prescription medications. Officers also found drug paraphernalia belonging to the owner of the property at the address.
Further medication was recovered from Ms Zarecky’s vehicle after her death, the inquest heard, and tin foil with drug residue was also found at the address. It was understood this belonged to Mr Jones who had used heroin prior to his friend's visit.
Acting senior coroner for Swansea and Neath Port Talbot Colin Phillips referred to a toxicology report and said Ms Zarecky had an enlarged liver at the time of her death. He said a lot of prescription drugs were detected in her body, likely for her chronic pain she'd been experiencing since the car crash, and said there was also evidence of methadone in her system, which she did not have a prescription for.
Concluding the inquest Mr Phillips said Ms Zarecky died of poisoning (overdose, toxicity) and listed the prescription medications she had taken. "Having heard the evidence she's probably consumed methadone [also]," he added.
Mr Phillips said Ms Zarecky died "as a result of the unintended consequences of consuming prescription medication for chronic pain" and recorded a drug-related death.
Following the inquest Ms Zarecky’s family and friends shared a poignant tribute to her. In a statement long-term friend Charlotte Toney said: “Known by many as 'DJ Lisa', Lisa Helena Zarecky was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She was loved by all that had the pleasure to meet her.
“Lisa pioneered the art of DJing as a female artist in the dance music industry, laying the foundations for women DJs everywhere in a scene dominated by men."
The statement continued: “One of the many highlights of Lisa's carer, that spanned more than 30 years, was at the age of 17 she went on stage to play her first ever live gig after the infamous Carl Cox, who told her once her set ended that he 'liked her style and to not stop doing what she was doing'.
“She went on to be Glastonbury Festival's first female breakbeat DJ and toured Australia with the big boys of the scene soon after, which all led to having her own two-page spread in DJ Mag at the age of 25.
“Lisa was an energetic, creative, kind and caring soul to everyone.
“Lisa has left a hole behind that will never be filled by those that knew and loved her best but she will always be remembered as the shining light she was, no matter what."
Following her death a fundraising appeal in her memory raised more than £1,000.
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