Thatcham man died from drug overdose

A 41-year-old man from Thatcham died of a drug overdose an inquest heard on Monday (July 4).

Berkshire assistant coroner Ian Wade found that part-time cleaner Mat Pearce, who had a history of drug misuse and overdoses, did not take his life intentionally.

Mr Pearce, who was described as a man who “loved to tell jokes and make people laugh”, died in the bedroom of his parent’s house on October 20, 2021.

He had ordered various “lawful and well-known” drugs over the internet – mostly pain killers, the inquest was told.

A search of his mobile phone, tablet and computer found he had ordered Cocodamol along with Alprazolam (Xanax), Tramadol, and Zopiclone from different countries, paid for with cryptocurrency Bitcoin.

Other drugs were also found in the room, including one blister strip with no name.

In a statement read out at the inquest, where she detailed the moment she found her son asleep on his bed, Mr Pearce’s mother Julie said she had previously expressed concern with the drugs he was taking when she found envelopes, containing drugs she did not recognise, arrive at their family home.

Despite taking medication for a blood clot in his leg, a pain of which he claimed people didn’t understand the severity, Mr Pearce did have a history of drug dependence including to opiods, heroine and ecstasy.

Mr Pearce was cared for by his GP practice, Thatcham surgery, and referred to a mental health service on a care programme approach.

On the day of his death, an ambulance was called to the Thatcham home at 6.28pm and arrived around 20 minutes later where Mr Pearce was found laying on his bedroom floor.

Mr Pearce’s mother's statement added that she "knew something was wrong" after repeatedly checking on him at intervals throughout the evening. He was snoring but he did not wake up.

The inquest was told that at 6.30pm she went upstairs as Mr Pearce needed to have dinner, shook her son and felt his face which she reported was cold.

He had a “greyish look” and no pulse, the statement added.

She called 999 and was told to lift him onto the floor, with the help of step-dad Derek. She then proceeded to give him CPR until paramedics arrived.

She said: “In my heart I knew I had lost my first born.

“He loved his part time job. He loved the family dogs, he would take them out for walks.

“I wish he could have had more help. He is so missed and always will be. Not a day goes by where we don’t think or talk about him.”

Mr Wade said the medical professionals involved in his treatment should feel they “offered their best shot and achieved something reasonably remarkable”.