Son of Helston publicans died after a night out

Henry Stone, whose parents Simon and Kim are landlords at the Blue Anchor, was found unconscious in the early hours of April 15 2018 after a night out and sadly could not be resuscitated.

He died at the age of 21.

A police report said that Henry was “never a big drinker,” although he drank at weekends, until being in a road traffic collision which was reported in the local press.

Some of the comments on social media about the incident seriously upset him and he began to drink to excess.

In an emotional tribute to her son posted on the Blue Anchor website in July 2018, his mum Kim said: “As a very close family Simon and I, Ben and Jake have been left absolutely devastated.

“Henry was a lovely upstanding and caring young man taken away from us far too early.”

Referencing a post-mortem examination, assistant coroner Andrew Cox said that the use of diazepam, also known as valium, was likely to have increased the risk of alcohol toxicity as both drugs are central nervous system depressants.

It was noted, however, that the diazepam found in a blood sample was within the therapeutic range and would have not been significant if not combined with the alcohol.

An analysis of blood samples also revealed in his system: cocaine, caffeine, quinine (found in tonic water) and noloxone (an opioid blocker used by paramedics for resuscitation).

The amount of ethanol in his system was 318mg per 100ml of blood, nearly four times the drink drive limit of 80mg per 100ml.

The inquest heard that levels of blood alcohol above 300mg per 100ml can be fatal. It was also noted that around 50 per cent of cases in which people have between 400mg and 450mg of ethanol per millilitre of blood in their system will end in fatality.

As for the levels of cocaine, Mr Cox said: “I don’t think the presence of cocaine here is significant, however, it seems to me the presence of the Diazepam may have exacerbated the use of the cocaine that was taken.”