A coroner has ruled that a man's sudden death from a heart attack was caused by chronic cannabis use.
Joshua Kerfoot fell ill during a Friday night out in October last year. The 27-year-old's sickness continued over the weekend and paramedics were called, but told his mum Angela that he was just suffering from a hangover.
However, Angela returned from a trip to the shops the next day to find her son "cold". He was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead later that day.
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At an inquest, the coroner ruled she has no concerns with the actions of the ambulance service and concluded the death was due to chronic cannabis use. Joanne Kearsley recorded Josh's death as "drug-related" at the inquest on April 13, noting that he had a "long history of daily cannabis use from a young age" - as MEN reports.
The record of inquest states: "He collapsed and died at his home address on the 18th October 2022. He had been unwell for several days with vomiting due to his cannabis use."
Concluding, Coroner Joanne Kearsley said: “I am satisfied following all investigations that there is no other reason to explain why such a young person has had an acute myocardial infarction. I find it was due to chronic cannabis use. The correction conclusion is that this was a drug-related death. Cannabis use is not safe.”
She added: “I understand the (family's) concern relating to the ambulance service. Given the medical history I heard evidence on I have no concerns with the ambulance the previous day."
An inquest at Rochdale Coroner's Court heard that the man from Bury had two previous admissions to hospital in 2022 with cannabis- induced hyperemesis. Speaking to the MEN, Angela said she "couldn't understand" why paramedics didn't taking his vomiting more seriously.
Paying tribute to Josh, mum Angela said he was "loved by everybody" and "always put others before himself". She said: "He was a kind and loving person. He loved spending time with his family and his niece and nephew. He had quite a few close friends."
She told the M.E.N. that she had spoken with the paramedics about Josh's history with excessive nausea and vomiting, known as hyperemesis, but they continued to dismiss his symptoms as simply a hangover. She added: "I called 111 on the Monday morning. They came out and told us he would be fine, and that it was just a hangover. But in the past he was admitted [to hospital] with the same thing. I tried to tell them that, but the paramedics didn't check his history."
Angela said Josh appeared "fine" and was speaking to her on the morning of his death, despite still being sick. He asked her to go to the shops to get him a "drink of pop" - but when she returned just 20 minutes later, she found his state had deteriorated rapidly.
She said: "I got home at around 6:35am and found him cold. All it took was 20 minutes."
A North West Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We would like to offer sincere condolences to Joshua’s family at what must be a very difficult time. "We note the coroner did not find any concern with our involvement, nor were we invited to take part in proceedings. However, if the family would like to discuss any concerns, we invite them to contact our patient safety team.”
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