A TALENTED young musician died from an accidental overdose of tablets he was taking for muscle pain caused by a self-imposed weight training regime, an inquest was told.

Only hours before he was found dead in bed at his home in Barry Street, Burnley, Russell Hosker, 18, had been robbed of £20 by two men in the town centre.

Russell was upset that friends had not gone to his aid but the incident was not connected to his tragic death said East Lancashire Coroner David Smith.

The inquest heard that Russell, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter with a group Astoria, had everything to live for.

He loved his music, had friends and was expected to be taken on permanently and to gain promotion at Granville Technology, Simonstone, where he worked as a computer operator.

Pathologist Dr WD Salman said analysis showed the equivalent of about two pints of beer and that Russell had taken 10-15 Coproximol tablets. The maximum daily dose was eight. Cause of death was an overdose of a drug.

Diane Hosker said her son had started weight training to build up his strength, working out 50 minutes each day.

Before going out with friends on Friday, March 5, he had a bath rather than a shower to try to ease the muscle pain. She heard him return home during the night. When she called him for work on the Saturday morning there was no response and she found him dead in bed.

Friends Noel Duffy of Lancaster drive, Clayton-le-Moors, and Patrick Harkness, of Graham Street, Padiham, said they had visited a pub that night and then gone into Burnley town centre.

They were outside a club waiting for a taxi when two strangers took hold of Russell and stole £20 from him. Patrick said: "Russell was a bit miffed that we hadn't helped him."

Raymond Hosker said the tablets were kept in a kitchen cupboard and had been given to him by a friend.

Had he known his son was taking them he would have warned him about how strong they were.

Det Insp Ron Griffiths said the robbery was being investigated. Police were satisfied there was nothing suspicious about Russell's tragic death.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Mr Smith said Russell had been taken the tablets to ease the aches and pains brought on by the weight training.

Their effect would be increased by the alcohol he had drunk that night. "He took too many tablets by accident," said Mr Smith.

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