Clayton‑le‑Moors man died after drinking while grieving mother

An inquest held at Preston Coroner's Court heard how Wayne Feeley was a keen cyclist who adored his dog Milo and loved to explore.

Speaking after the inquest, Wayne's niece Samantha said: “Wayne was loved by his nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

“Madison, the eldest, was his absolute best friend who misses him dearly.

“Wayne was extremely sociable and had friends all over Lancashire, always making new ones when he was out and about.”

In the months prior to his death, Wayne had been planning for the future and had intended to get a new puppy, travel to Benidorm and get a new job, having cared for his mother for years.

Her death affected him, and the 59-year-old stopped eating properly and began consuming alcohol.

Evidence provided by Inspire, Lancashire’s drug and alcohol misuse charity, said Wayne had previously been drinking excessively but had turned his life around in recent years.

Speaking to the court, his family said: “There was a big period of his life where he was okay, then mum got ill, and it went backwards for him.”

On December 19, his sister drove past the property and noticed the lights were on.

When she entered the property, she found Wayne deceased.

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A police report said: “He increased his drinking since the passing of his mother; he did not have a medical history other than arthritis.

“He was located on the sofa, and he was sitting up. The paramedics have confirmed that he was sadly deceased at 1636.

“It is possible he had been there for some time, and there were empty alcohol bottles noted, but this was not considered to be out of the normal; there were no suspicious circumstances.”

Coroner Emma Mather said that the alcohol consumption was not done with the intention of ending his own life.

She said: “The consumption wasn’t done with the intention of ending his own life. It tells me that Wayne had planned for the future and was looking forward to getting better. He had developed a relationship with alcohol, and he loved you very much, and I will not be finding that this was suicide.

“The fact that he had a blip, I did have to consider that. This was a terrible tragedy where he had consumed too much alcohol and slipped into ketoacidosis, where his body is unable to break down the alcohol.”

Speaking after the inquest, the family said that they had received significant support from Hyndburn Bereavement Support and recommended the charity.

Ms Mather returned the conclusion of alcohol related death.