A YOUNG chef was found dead in his bedroom after accidentally taking a fatal heroin overdose.

Paramedics had to force the 28-year-old’s bedroom door to get to the 28-year-old after his flatmates at the house in Morieux Road, Leyton, raised the alarm.

Walthamstow Coroner's Court heard that Mr Clarke was already dead when paramedics found him lying motionless on his bed.

PC Sarah Levitt who was on patrol at the time, arrived shortly after and discovered “drug paraphernalia” in his room, including a bent spoon with residue on it and citric acid, which is often mixed with heroin before being taken.

PC Levitt also found many prescription drugs, which Mr Clarke had been prescribed for schizophrenia.

A statement made by his parents, Christine and Steve Clarke, said their son was from Brisbane in Australia and had come to the UK last year on a 12-month working visa.

They confirmed he was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17-years-old.

His psychiatrist in Australia, Dr Malcolm Foxtrot, said Mr Clarke was on medication to treat paranoia, hallucinations, psychosis and symptoms of bi-polar disorder.

But, Dr Foxtrot said, Mr Clarke responded well to treatment and he and his family agreed that it would be safe for him to travel to the UK.

The psychiatrist said that Mr Clarke had no history of taking illegal drugs. But a toxicology report carried out following his death on January 29, revealed he had more than double the potentially fatal dose of morphine in his blood.

A urine sample also showed traces of cocaine and a hair sample proved Mr Clarke could have been using heroin for at least five months before he died, the court heard.

Coroner Dr Elizabeth Stearns said: “When a death involves illicit drugs, we have to consider whether he died from a dependency on drugs, but there is no evidence from his family or doctors that this was an on-going reported problem.

“It would seem this young man misjudged the amount of the drug he could safely take.”

She added: “We regret the death of a young man on the threshold of life and who was likely to be going home to see his family for Christmas. It is a very sad loss of life.”

The coroner ruled a verdict of misadventure.