A 20-year-old Lydney man died after consuming several lines of cocaine and drinking a large quantity of alcohol on New Year’s Eve, an inquest was told.

At Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court Detective Sergeant John Newton explained that Ethan Maher of Archers Hall Place, Lydney had been out with his friends from 2pm on December 31.

Det Sgt Newton added: “Ethan’s friends recall that he had been drinking a large volume of alcohol throughout the day as well as taking multiple lines of cocaine. He may have also taken ketamine.

“Later in the evening his friends said that Ethan began complaining of a weird feeling in his hands.

“Ethan left the party without incident at 1am on January 1, 2022 and he walked along Lydney High Street with a friend. At some point along the road the pair went their separate ways home.

“Ethan was described as being in good spirits when they parted.”

Ethan’s father Steven said that on New Year’s Day he had got up as usual and when he passed his son’s bedroom, he noticed the door was open and he wasn’t inside.

Mr Maher said: “However, it got to 1.19pm when I realised that he hadn’t contacted me so I texted him, but I didn’t receive a reply. I tried to phone him several times, but his phone went to voice mail.

“When I didn’t get a reply, I assumed he was still out with his friends having celebrated bringing in the New Year. I assumed he was still recovering from the night before.

“However I became increasingly more concerned over his welfare as the day went on. At 3.05pm I began ringing him again. The phone rang several times and I grew even more concerned with each call I made that didn’t get answered.

“I then went to the garage just before 4pm and opened the big main door, but as it opened I could see Ethan lying face down, his head was facing towards the door and his feet in the opposite direction. His arms were by his side and his hands were pointing towards his feet.

“I remember trying to rouse him, but I didn’t get any response from him. He felt very heavy and lifeless. I immediately called the emergency services.”

Ethan was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 4.16pm.

A post mortem was carried out by Dr Hermanth Naik who concluded that Ethan had consumed a large amount of alcohol and that he had used cocaine just prior to his death.

Dr Naik also confirmed that Ethan had taken ketamine in the days, or hours prior to his passing.

Dr Naik said: “The concentration of the alcohol in his blood was significant. Ethan recorded over 350 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood, the legal limit for driving is 80. This is acute intoxication.

“The level of ketamine found is consistent with moderate excessive use. The level of cocaine is consistent with recent excessive use.”

The pathologist concluded that the cause of Ethan’s death was ‘combined drug and alcohol toxicity’.

Roland Wooderson, the assistant coroner for Gloucestershire recorded a narrative conclusion: “Ethan was found dead in a garage at his home address in Lydney by his father on January 1, 2022.

“The police confirm that his death was not suspicious. At post mortem the cause of his death was the confirmed as the combined drug and alcohol toxicity.”