One mother learned that her 23-year-old son had died when a friend asked her when the funeral was.
Wigan’s Robert Lee Wering was found dead by two of his friends on the morning of November 1 last year. He spent the night drinking with the other two men, but when they tried to wake him the next morning, they realized he had died in his sleep.
An investigation in the Preston Coroner’s Court on Tuesday said that 23-year-old Robert had taken a number of drugs in the hours leading up to his death, including cocaine and heroin, and that he was “deeply intoxicated” by drinking. The combination of drugs and alcohol led to the cessation of his respiratory system, reports Manchester Evening News.
READ MORE: Baby encounters ASBO boys who become big drug dealers
During the investigation, Detective Inspector Chris Wellard of Preston Police apologized to Robert’s mother for finding out that Robert had died. DI Wellard explained that after officers at the Bow Lane ward where she lived identified Robert, he asked an officer to visit her at her home in the Greater Manchester area.
However, they had not yet done so two days after his death, when officers sent a message to his mother expressing their condolences, believing she would be informed by police by then. DI Wellard said: “I can only apologize wholeheartedly for the way you found out about the death, my intention was to be visited by an officer, but unfortunately the Manchester police did not visit.
“It’s not appropriate to call someone and tell someone about their son’s death, so we asked GMP to find an address and inform you personally. I can only apologize; I was shocked to hear that. “
Robert’s mother thanked the detective for the apology and said, “I was at work and received a message. ‘I’m so sorry to hear about Robert.’ I left work because of a missed call and the message “I’m sorry, can you let me know when the funeral is so that I went to work for two days, lived my life and my son was dead.”
DI Wellard confirmed that an investigation had been launched after Robert was found dead, but concluded that there was no evidence of third party involvement. As part of the investigation, detectives spoke with the two men Robert was with, Ernie Cotham and Rollo Seagal, who gave similar accounts of what happened that night.
Detective Inspector said: “We immediately received a bill from Ernie Cotham and a rather distorted bill from Mr. Seagal, who was drunk. They both said that Robert came to the address, which is actually a bed, in the early hours of the morning with Rollo. “
Both men told police that Wigan, who was born in Wigan, went to bed at about 5 a.m. in an apartment in West Cliff, Preston. He snored loudly for about an hour, but then stopped, and at about 9:30 a.m., the two men heard Robert’s breathing become difficult. They tried to wake him, but noticed that he was blue and not breathing.
Post-mortem toxicology tests revealed that Robert had fatal levels of pregabalin in his system, as well as heroin and cocaine. In a report, a toxicologist said that the simultaneous use of heroin and cocaine increases the risk of death, as concomitant use may increase their sedative effects.
Returning to the conclusion that Robert’s death was related to drugs and alcohol, District Coroner Chris Long concluded that the combination of alcohol and drugs “proved fatal.” He added: “Robert Lee Waring was found dead on November 1, 2021 at Flat 5, 27 West Cliff, Preston. Mr Wering was found not to react. Toxicology tests revealed ethanol corresponding to deep intoxication, along with a number of illegal drugs, which in combination led to Mr Wering’s death. “
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sports and updates from Liverpool ECHO by registering here
Add Comment