Drug overdose was key factor in death of man, 52, who collapsed on Castlebar street
The inquest was heard last Thursday at Ballina Courthouse.
A drug overdose contributed to the death of man who was found collapsed on the street.
An inquest into the death of Thomas Cody, aged 52, of Tara Court, Castlebar, took place at Ballina Courthouse.
The deceased had been using an e-scooter and was found on Spencer Street, Castlebar at 5pm on December 11, 2023. CPR was administered and he was brought to Mayo University Hospital where he died.
The inquest heard that Mr Cody moved to Ireland from the United States over 20 years ago and previously worked as mechanic in Castlebar. He lived alone and had no family in Ireland.
A toxicology report later revealed multiple drugs including cocaine, Tramadol, and Gabapentin in his system.
Consultant pathologist Dr Tamas Nemeth said the Tramadol discovered was at very high toxic levels. He concluded the cause of death was "respiratory failure due to acute aspiration pneumonia due to combined drug overdose".
Dr Nemeth noted that Tramadol may cause seizures, particularly combined with other drugs that can also cause seizures such as cocaine. The combined use of these drugs, he said, particularly at toxic levels may lead to serious side effects including breathing difficulties, heart problems, nausea and vomiting.
Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, coroner Dr Eleanor Fitzgerald said painkillers like Tramadol are highly addictive and dangerous if combined with other drugs. She warned of the risks of long-term use and voiced concern over the prevalence of cocaine in society.
