A POPULAR Newbury gym boss died from alcohol poisoning, an inquest heard last week.
Ironically, the superfit 45-year-old had shunned heavy drinking all his life - until injuries sustained in a car crash changed Graham Black’s personality, the hearing was told.
The former Mr Great Britain and Mr Europe was found dead by his parents, David and Faye, at his home in Manor Park, Newbury, on October 30 last year.
Mr Black senior, a retired businessman who lives at North Sydmonton, tried to revive his son and called paramedics - but to no avail.
He told the inquest that his son had been devastated to lose his business of 20 years, the Flex Muscle and Fitness Gym, to the redevelopment at Park Way
But the biggest blow came during a holiday in Thailand. Mr Black said: “He had an accident over there.He went through the windscreen of a car and was in an intensive therapy unit. He discharged himself early and walked out.
“When he got back he seemed to have changed entirely. He didn’t drink before but would now drink at least a full bottle of spirits and strong lagers each day. There was a real personality change.”
He added: “When he got back he used to say: ‘I don’t feel ill but I just don’t feel right.’”
Post mortem tests showed 353mcg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in Mr Black’s system - more than four times the legal limit for driving.
A pathologist’s report concluded: “A level of 300mcg is likely to induce vomiting and may result in loss of consciousness or even coma.
“More than 400 mcg is considered potentially fatal.”
Mr Graham Black’s brother Stuart told the inquest: “Previously, he used to drink mineral water and would tell me off if I had an alcoholic drink.”
The cause of death was acute alcohol toxicity and no drugs were found in Mr Black’s system, the hearing was told.
Assistant Berkshire Coroner Pearl Willis said she did not believe Mr Black had intended to harm himself because his breakfast had been laid out.
But she said he may have known that to drink so recklessly could have forshortened his life and recorded an open verdict.
More than 300 people attended Mr Black’s funeral at Burghclere Church last November, some from as far afield as America.
His father said after the inquest: “He was loved by everyone. He had a generous nature and often helped a friend with cerebral palsy, carrying him into discos and so on.”
Stuart Black said: “My brother was a wonderful man. The family would like to thank everyone who came to the funeral.”