A 'dedicated raver' was found dead just hours after he received messages from someone threatening to stab him, an inquest has heard. Gareth Curran, known as Cuz, was found at his home in Blackpool by his friend on October 1 last year.
He was found by his friend, Tony Warburton, who found him unresponsive on his sofa with drug paraphernalia scattered around his living room. An inquest at Blackpool town hall heard that Gareth had been estranged from his family and had recently fallen out with his only friend, LancsLive reports.
In the early hours of October 1 Gareth had received messages, including one that vowed to stab him, with neighbours also reporting that they heard banging and shouting around 3am that same morning. The 47-year-old had been addicted to heroin for many years, the court heard, and had been using Class A drugs for many years.
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Senior Coroner Alan Wilson told the court: "Gareth had contacted police at 5.30am reporting that he had some threatening messages including one at 12.30am threatening to stab him... After his death a police investigation was carried out but there was no prosecution."
Mr Warburton said he had last seen 'Cuz' around 5.30pm the previous night. Gareth had told him that he was planning on using heroin later that night.
Gareth was found the next day with drug paraphinalia in his home and a number of marks on his body. His sister giving evidence at the hearing, told the coroner: "He liked a lot of hip hop music and he would find inspiration to write his own lyrics through listening to it. We were quite a close-knit family but he was heroin dependent when I was a child."
A post mortem by pathologist Alison Armour found no natural cause of death or signs of any injuries or assault. A toxicology report found fatal levels of heroin in his system with his cause of death given as complex drug misuse with the coroner concluding a drugs related death.
Coroner Mr Wilson said: "He cut off his family as a result of his drug taking and he only had one friend and he had fallen out with him. This is a sad set of circumstances unfortunately all too familiar to our court; someone with long-term drug issues which have ultimately proven to be fatal. He had a supportive family who did everything they could to assist him with his drug issues but ultimately he cut ties with his family."
After Gareth's death, friends posted tributes to him on Facebook. The owner of Shelley's Laserdome in Stoke-on-Trent wrote: “We lost one of our own. Not only had he supported us for the last seven years but Gareth lived and breathed the scene and had done all his life.”
The Original Amnesia House posted: "Condolences to all that knew Gareth Curran on his sad passing from all us here at Amnesia House, he was a follower of ours for over 30 years, our thoughts are with all his family RIP."
Stacey East added: "Just crushed to learn of the passing of Gareth Curran, one of the most loyal, dedicated ravers of all time. Our community is crushed by your loss. You will be sorely missed my friend."
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