A MAN who struggled with opioid addiction tragically died in a town centre flat after taking multiple drugs, an inquest heard.

Rhys Mason, 33, was discovered dead in the bedroom of a flat on New Street in Whitehaven on April 27.

An inquest into his death held at Cockermouth Coroners heard Mr Mason began getting into trouble after leaving school and had been ‘in and out of prison’. After being released from prison in 2023, he stayed with his dad for a while before moving to the Peter Street hostel in Whitehaven.

Mr Mason was going to the gym and ‘seemed to be doing well’. He then started staying with a woman but their relationship was described as ‘toxic’, the inquest heard.

He was then placed in Calderwood House homeless hostel in Egremont but was later kicked out. He was ‘hanging round with the wrong people’ outside St Nicholas’ Gardens in Whitehaven.

Mr Mason said his son had ‘never been a hard drug user’ and he would occasionally drink. The last time he saw his son alive, he was putting some clothes in the washing machine at his house.

He said: “I’m still in so much shock. He was fine and told me, he would come and collect it [the washing]. Next thing, I’m told he was dead. It doesn’t feel real.”

The inquest heard police had been called to a flat on New Street on April 27 after the ambulance service reported a man who was not breathing.

Police arrived at the flat, where Mr Mason was deceased on a bed. A woman, who appeared to be intoxicated, told officers that Mr Mason had come round the previous evening and wanted to stay the night. He had taken some drugs.

The woman said she had slept on the sofa and had checked on Mr Mason at midday. She said someone came round a short while later and was looking through Mr Mason’s clothing because he owed him money. The woman said she noticed Mr Mason was unresponsive and phoned for an ambulance.

The inquest heard Mr Mason had been referred to the mental health crisis team in April 2021 due to low mood.

He was recalled to prison in June 2022 and didn’t engage with mental health services while in prison. In December 2023, he reported struggling with low mood.

In February 2024, he attended West Cumberland Hospital with a stab wound. He reported he had been stabbed by a drug dealer in a pub. He attempted to run away from the hospital but was chased by police officers.

A statement from Mr Mason’s GP said he had a long history of anxiety, depression, drug and alcohol misuse and opioid addiction.

A toxicology report revealed that Mr Mason had taken multiple drugs prior to his death and the drugs were within toxic levels.

The cause of death was bronchopneumonia and multiple drug intoxication.

Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said: “It’s a tragedy that he’s died at an incredibly young age. He would have had many years in front of him.

“I’m so sorry you lost him in this way. It’s needless.”

The coroner concluded that Mr Mason’s death was drug-related.