The family of a man who suffered a heart attack after chronic cannabis use have spoken of their sadness following his sudden death last year. Joshua Kerfoot, from Bury, Greater Manchester died in October in 2022.
He had been on a night out on a Friday and started vomiting and feeling unwell throughout the weekend and in to the following Monday. Paramedics attended his home, however, after the sickness continued but told his mum Angela he was suffering the effects of a hangover, reports the Manchester Evening News.
His mother found him the following day 'cold' and the man was rushed to hospital before being pronounced dead later that day. A coroner concluded his death was due to 'chronic cannabis use'.
The coroner also admits due to the 27-year-old's medical history that there was no concern for the actions of the ambulance service. 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.”
At Rochdale Coroner's Court an inquest heard Joshua had two previous hospital admissions with cannabis-induced hyperemesis. Angela told the Manchester Evening News she 'couldn't understand' why her son's excessive vomiting wasn't take more seriously by medics while paying tribute to Joshua.
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. He was loved by everybody who knew him."
The mother revealed she spoke with paramedics about his history of hyperemesis but they 'dismissed' the symptoms he was facing as a result of the night out.
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 noted her son seemed 'fine' on their final interaction on the morning of his death as she nipped out to the shops to get him a 'drink of pop'. When she returned just twenty minutes after, her son had become more ill.
She said: "I got home at around 6:35am and found him cold. All it took was 20 minutes."
Coroner Joanne Kearsley officially recorded his death as 'drug-related' at the inquest on April 13, noting that the 27-year-old has suffered from a 'long history of daily cannabis use from a young age'.
"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," the inquest record states.
Coroner Kearsley added: “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.
“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.”
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