Father-to-be died after taking drugs

DRUGS claimed the life of a hard-working Oldhamer just weeks before he was due to become a father, an Oldham inquest heard yesterday.

Aaron Warburton had been “over the moon” that his long-term girlfriend Hayley Cook, from Holts, was expecting their child.

Six weeks after his death she gave birth to daughter Larna.

Aaron was found dead in bed by his mum, Jacqualine, at their Furness Avenue home in Alt on Saturday, July 5, last year.

It was first believed a fall at work had contributed to his death, but the inquest, at Oldham Magistrates’ Courtheard the 21-year-old had taken significant amounts of cocaine and ecstasy that together caused his death.

Aaron was a cleaner for First Manchester Buses at its Wallshaw Street depot and, despite missing out on socialising with friends, worked a 6pm to 2am shift and at weekends.

He stayed overnight with friends on July 3 before going to work the next day.

But at 1.30am, two bus drivers saw Aaron fall over as he walked through the bus depot with two friends.

They helped him to his feet but he fell again and suffered cuts and bruises to his face.

Aaron was normally laid back and pleasant but they described him as completely out of character and like a rowdy drunk who was mumbling.

He got in his car but his colleagues took the keys off him and an ambulance was called. Aaron’s behaviour got stranger and he refused to co-operate with paramedics and was aggressive.

At one stage he went into the toilets and swallowed some powder from a small plastic bag in front of a colleague, who reported it to the paramedics.

He eventually allowed them to clean him up and he was taken to the Royal Oldham at 2.16am but left the hospital minutes later without treatment.

He went back to work at 3.14am but was seen on CCTV heading off for home on foot five minutes later.

His mum last saw him alive at 10pm when he went home during a work break to check on his eight-week-old brother Milo, who had been diagnosed with a hernia and was taken to hospital that night for treatment.

She checked on Aaron in the morning and instantly knew something was wrong. Paramedics were called but could not revive him.

Aaron was described as an outgoing lad who enjoyed a laugh but never got into trouble. He was very kind, dependable and always happy.

The family knew he smoked cannabis but did not know of other drug use.

Police did not find the drugs, or who supplied them, but said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner Simon Nelson said it was clear the family had been through an absolute nightmare.

They had presented a picture of a hard-working, young family man with a close and supportive family and girlfriend who had everything to live for.

He added: “Why Aaron had the need to use these substances is something we will never understand, except that I suppose one is always tempted by the promise of the effects of these substances and by their availability. He would not necessarily take on board the risks involved.

“My only hope is that by reason of the intense grief that those around him have suffered it acts as a warning to others that are tempted. There are too many young people that succumb to the temptation.”