STEPHEN ORRELL died after unintentionally mixing prescribed medication with alcohol, an inquest was told.

The combination of temazepam, diazepam and other anti-depressants with a "considerable amount of alcohol" formed a lethal cocktail.

The 43-year-old fork-lift truck driver was found slumped in the bathroom of his Knuzden home in July by his partner of 20 years, Barbara Bolton.

Ms Bolton, of Windsor Road, said her partner had never done anything to lead her to believe he would harm himself. She said he had a drink problem, especially since breaking his shoulder in April 1999, since when he had been unable to work. He was due to start work in July or August, which he was looking forward to. She said that she went shopping on the evening of July 23 and when she came home at 9.45pm Mr Orrell had been drinking. "He was relaxed and a bit tipsy but I would not describe him as drunk," said Ms Bolton. They went to bed together and Ms Bolton went to sleep, leaving Mr Orrell reading. The next morning she found him dead. The only tablets that were missing were those that Mr Orrell should have taken.

GP Dr Kevin Tucker said Mr Orrell had a history of alcohol abuse and once confessed to drinking six cans of beer and a half bottle of rum a night.

Dr Richard Prescott, who did the post-mortem examination, said there was severe fatty change to the liver induced by alcohol. Blood alcohol was about three times the drink-driving limit and there had been therapeutic levels of diazepam, temazepam and other prescribed anti-depressants. The combined effect was central brain stem depression, causing breathing to stop, said Dr Prescott.

Coroner Michael Singleton said he was satisfied Mr Orrell had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol at the same time as taking medication. He recorded a verdict of mis- adventure. "The combined effect was to lead to his untimely demise," said Mr Singleton. "I do not believe Stephen Orrell intended to do himself any harm." He said that people needed to fully understand the risks of drinking while taking medication. "All medication is potentially toxic," said Mr Singleton.