A MAN was found dead in his Southampton flat after taking a drugs overdose and drinking excessive alcohol.

Kevin Edward McMahon had lived with “excruciating pain” after fracturing his back in a fall.

The inquest heard despite surgery, his mobility and strength was limited and he took morphine and drank a lot to cope his injuries.

Police found Mr McMahon’s body on the floor of his flat on March 1 after they had been called to the address in Riverdene Place by his family, who were concerned for his welfare. Senior coroner Grahame Short said he did not believe Mr McMahon intended to end his life.

His mother’s cousin, Julienne Jack, told Winchester Coroner’s Court he had to use a crutch to move around and could not physically stand for long enough to cook meals following the fall in February 2017. Ms Jack said the 53-year-old spoke to his mother, who suffers from dementia, every day on the phone.

“He was in excruciating pain,” she said.

A report from a Dr Jeba Gnana Pragasam, of the Living Well Partnership where Mr McMahon was registered, said he was still suffering from spinal injuries in September 2018 and he had told a doctor he “felt like giving up”.

The inquest heard he was referred to the acute mental health team at Antelope House, who found he had “a low immediate risk” of taking his own life and he was discharged from the service the following month. Pathologist Dr Jeffrey Theaker gave a cause of death as the mixture of toxicity of alcohol and morphine.

Reaching a conclusion of drug and alcohol related death, Mr Short said it appeared Mr McMahon drank alcohol and morphine as a coping mechanism but “on this occasion he just drank too much which led to these consequences”.

Mr Short said Mr McMahon died some time between February 25 when a friend last had contact with him and March 1 when police came to his home.

Speaking after the inquest, Ms Jack said: “Kevin is greatly missed by his mother Anne, aunt Julie, John and all of his friends.”