Coroner warns of ketamine dangers

A CORONER has warned of the dangers of abusing a horse tranquiliser after a man fell into a canal and later died after snorting the drug.

An inquest heard yesterday that Scott Stone, 21, from Sleights near Whitby, had initially refused hospital treatment after he had fallen into the canal following a drugs binge involving ketamine.

Hours later he collapsed and was taken to Horton Hospital in Banbury with pneumonia. The next day his family took the decision to turn off his life support machine.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Coroner Anne Pember said: "Ketamine was directly responsible for Scott's death. Young people should be aware of the danger of the drug and the difficulty of controlling your body and responses after taking it."

The inquest at Northampton General Hospital was told that Mr Stone, who was visiting his father, Roy, in Northamptonshire, had taken ketamine with a friend, Richard Burnham, when he fell into the canal at Stoke Bruerne on June 8 last year.

The pair had snorted lines of the horse tranquiliser before driving to the village for lunch. They later went for a walk along the canal.

After slipping into the water, Mr Stone was dragged out by his friend and a passer-by, both believing him to be dead.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But after regaining consciousness, he refused to go to hospital and laughed off the incident.

Paramedic Alan Barham told the inquest that he had spent 20 minutes trying to persuade Mr Stone to go to hospital.

Mr Stone worked for his mother Jacquie, who said: "He was incredibly giving, and even since his death his death he is still giving – we've had letters from people who have received organ donations from him, including a two-month-old baby and a father who are now leading healthy lives because of Scott."