Father finds son dead

A RECOVERING alcoholic was found dead the day after he fell down a flight of stairs.

Andrew Bennett, aged 29, from Dividy Road, Bentilee, was found by his parents on August 21, 2008.

An inquest was told former engineer Andrew developed a drinking problem on his return to Stoke-on-Trent after living in Birmingham.

Julie Bennett, his mother, said: "He started drinking heavily, buying three litre bottles of cider a day, which became nine litres.

"He realised he had a problem and went to see a doctor and for treatment.

"He started suffering seizures in early 2008 when he hadn't had any alcohol."

On August 20, 2008, he suff-ered a head injury after falling down stairs in the house where he lived with his mother.

The next morning he was discovered dead in his bedroom by Rob Bennett, his father, of Ford Hayes, Bentilee.

Anthony Curzon, North Staffordshire deputy coroner, recorded a narrative verdict and said the cause of death was aspiration pneumonitis, caused by inhaling gastric contents into the lungs.

He said: "If he hadn't had that fall he would still be here.

"The drinking in my view would have most probably contributed to the fall, but he wasn't drunk when he died."