A DAD with heart problems died from amphetamine poisoning after taking a ‘fatal’ dose of the drugs, an inquest heard.

Stuart Ainsworth, 44, from Blackburn, was found ‘on his knees’ by paramedics in a room at The Islington Motel in Great Bolton Street, Blackburn where he was having trouble breathing and speaking, deputy East Lancashire coroner Derek Baker was told.

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When he was taken to A&E at Royal Blackburn Hospital, doctors found his heart rate to be very high and when he suffered a cardiac arrest, doctors were unable to revive him.

The inquest was told when police searched his room they discovered some ‘unknown’ white powder.

Mr Baker was told Mr Ainsworth served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1991 and had taken drugs ever since after struggling to cope with civilian life.

Dr Richard Prescott, consultant pathologist, said: “The cause of death is amphetamine toxicity.

“The levels we found were regarded as fatal and these could have been higher at the time of death.

“When you take amphetamines over a long period of time, you can build up a tolerance, so he may have taken more to get the same effect.

“I don’t think any more could have been done to save him.”

He had been admitted to hospital a number of times with heart failure and the coroner was told by his brother William that he had become ‘addicted’ to amphetamines.

Mr Ainsworth had also had a triple bypass operation and a pacemaker fitted.

Mr Ainsworth’s brother, William, told the inquest: “I always tried to tell him to stop what he was doing but he never listened.

“I think he had Gulf War syndrome.”

Mr Baker concluded Mr Ainsworth had died after taking drugs.

He said: “There is no evidence that any other drugs played a part and there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

“We know that the dose he took is commonly associated with fatalities but I don’t think he intended this to happen. The levels were high when he was tested and they could have been higher at the time of death.

“He may have taken more than he intended to and he may have thought he needed to take that amount to provoke a reaction.

“I conclude this is a drugs-related death and I offer my condolences to you.”