A DRUG addict died after suffering a heart attack at his mother’s home.

An inquest at Bolton Coroners’ Court heard how 39-year-old Michael Gillard had become dependant on illegal drugs when he was a teenager and, in the months before his death in November last year, was injecting up to four bags of heroin a day.

Mr Gillard’s mother, Yvonne Harrison told assistant coroner Simon Nelson his drug habit had developed until he was regularly using heroin and crack cocaine.

In October last year the father-of-three returned to live at his mother's home in Gordon Avenue, Deane.

In the weeks leading to his death she described how he became unwell, complaining of pain and vomiting and was sometimes too ill to go to the pharmacist to take his methadone.

On the evening of November 23 Miss Harrison described how he came to her room and fell asleep on her bed.

But at 3am he suddenly sat up in bed and collapsed onto the floor..

"You realised there was something really, really wrong, " Mr Nelson told the mother.

An ambulance was called, which Mr Gillard's family believed took more than half an hour to arrive, but records showed was at their home in 12 minutes.

Mr Gillard was revived but was deeply unconscious and, despite being admitted to the intensive care unit at the Royal Bolton Hospital, doctors were unable to save him. He died just after 6.30pm on November 24.

The court heard that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Gillard's death.

Pathologist Dr Ravindra Sawant told that court that a postmortem revealed that Mr Gillard had suffered a heart attack which led to cardiac failure.

He added that the heart attack was brought on due to chronic intravenous drug use.

Mr Nelson told Mr Gillard's family that earlier medical intervention would not have saved him.

"I rather believe that Michael, very sadly, was in extremis before he even got to hospital," said Mr Nelson.

"I do not believe there would be anything at all that would, sadly, have averted the fact of Michael's death."

Recording a conclusion that Mr Gillard's death was drug related, Mr Nelson said: "I don't think, Miss Harrison, you have anything to reproach yourself for.

"You had offered him a home and had cared for him as best you could.

"His use and abuse of drugs wasn't something that just started in 2018. That the family stood by him is very much to your credit.

"You will remember him, I am sure, for the qualities he had as a devoted son to you and your family."

Mr Nelson concluded with the hope that Mr Gillard's death will serve as a warning to others who may become involved in

drugs.