Man who fell from window died due to cocaine in system not injuries from fall, inquest rules

By Fiona Thompson
Published 17th Dec 2020, 16:00 BST
Updated 17th Dec 2020, 20:54 BST
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A man who was initially thought to have died due to a fall from an upstairs window had taken a fatal amount of cocaine.

Phillip Alan Martin was found by police outside his home in Marlborough in Seaham, just after 8am on Wednesday, July 1, this year, with the upstairs window open and blinds disturbed.

But the inquest into the death of the 37-year-old dad-of-two held today, Wednesday, December 16, heard a post mortem examination established he died due to a high level of cocaine in his system and heart disease – not injuries from the fall.

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County Durham Assistant Coroner Dr Leslie Hamilton gave a stern warning, stressing the dangers of the substance.

Police on the scene of the incident in Marlborough in Seaham following the death of Phillip Martin in July.Police on the scene of the incident in Marlborough in Seaham following the death of Phillip Martin in July.
Police on the scene of the incident in Marlborough in Seaham following the death of Phillip Martin in July.
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As he recorded a conclusion Mr Martin’s death was drug-related, he said: “Some sections of society see cocaine as relatively safe compared to other drugs.

"This is clearly not the case. It can cause heart disease in young people and it can be fatal in its own right.”

A report by Detective Inspector Chris Woollett, of Durham Constabulary, was read to the hearing at Crook Civic Centre, attended by Mr Martin’s family and partner.

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