A PARANOID schizophrenic, who plunged to his death from a car park, and who was later found to have a rare illegal hallucinatory opiate in his body, killed himself an inquest heard.

Police had earlier been called in after a pathologist discovered Mahfooz Hussain, 33, had been given the veterinary drug ketamine.

It is sometimes used by addicts but was said by a leading medic to be 'not known' on the streets of this area. It was feared that Mr Hussain could have got it before he fell.

However, enquiries revealed the drug, also used as a minor anaesthetic, had been injected into Mr Hussain's arm by an emergency doctor who worked with the ambulance service.

The medic was tending him after he jumped from the car park, above Nelson bus station, in February.

East Lancs Coroner David Smith recorded a verdict that Mr Hussain killed himself while depressed.

He had been plagued by mental health problems for years and had leapt from the roof of his parents home six years earlier.

Mr Smith said police were satisfied no third party was involved, there were no suspicious circumstances and no evidence the dead man had been pushed.

He said Mr Hussain suffered mood changes and may have been upset that those treating him would not stop giving him medication by injection.

But that was the only way they could ensure he received it, as he would not take it orally,

Factory worker Mr Hussain, married with a child, lived with his family at Lune Street, Colne, and also suffered from epilepsy. He died from multiple injuries in Burnley General Hospital, despite a desperate battle to save him.

He had been discharged from hospital just weeks earlier under a supervision order after being detained under the Mental Health Act.

He was visited daily by members of his care team.

The inquest at Burnley Magistrates Court heard how Mr Hussain, previously responsible for a serious attack on his wife and who would starve himself, had been in hospital for nine or 10 months with severe injuries after he jumped off the roof of his parents' home.

He had become depressed about eight years ago but had never said he wanted to end his life.

On the morning of his death he left home about 9am, telling his wife he was going into Nelson.

But later he fell from the first storey of the car park, in front of passers-by and taxi drivers.