Tragic end to a boozy afternoon

A CORONER issued a warning on the perils of alcohol after the actions of a young man went “horribly wrong” and his body was found by his girlfriend.

Stuart Grattan was discovered on the stairs at his home in South View Walk, Oldham, by Martha Aynsley.

The 25-year-old had his head in a loop formed by a sleeveless hi-visibility jacket which was tied around a post of the banister.

A post mortem examination found his death was consistent with the effects of hanging.

But coroner Simon Nelson said: “There is no way I can be sure it was a deliberate act to end his own life. The mechanism was clumsy and hazard, and there was no explanation left by him via a text or note.”

Stuart had gone out drinking with work colleagues from Toy Options, Leesbrook Mill, after work on a Friday afternoon.

A colleague, Tony Lloyd, made a statement read at yesterday’s inquest which said they had been in a number of pubs, and Stuart had drunk lager, vodka and Red Bull.

He had a tiff with his girlfriend when she wanted Stuart, who had diabetes, to go home to eat, but he decided to stay out drinking.

Martha, of Stamford Road, Lees, told the inquest she went to work in the evening and although she had intended to go to his house after finishing in the early hours, she didn’t, purely out of stubbornness.

She said she had tried to call him several times in the evening but he hadn’t answered his phone and she thought he may have gone out.

She made her tragic discovery the following day when she called at his home.

She told the inquest about her boyfriend of seven months: “He would never have meant to hurt any of the people who loved him, or hurt himself.”

Stuart was a talented musician, and played bass guitar in a band, and was described as outgoing, always laughing and joking with a love of life and many friends.

He lived with his parents who were on holiday in Greece when the tragedy happened.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Mr Nelson said: “His death has clearly devastated all those who were close to him.

“It is clear he was drunk, and in my view he had expected Miss Aynsley to attend and whatever he was trying to demonstrate had she attended at his behest went horribly wrong.

“It encapsulates the perils of consuming alcohol in a binge-type basis.

“I come across so many instances were young men, in particular, have died by reason of excessive consumption of alcohol.

“It is my firm belief that if there had been no alcohol that night, Stuart would still be with us today.

“It seems such a waste.”