A homeless man who was found dead behind an air conditioning unit in a car park outside Manchester Children's Hospital had a history of chronic alcohol misuse, an inquest heard.
Lukasz Kowalczyk, 34, was found in a car park opposite the hospital on Hathersage Road on December 6. At the inquest at Manchester Coroner's Court, senior coroner Nigel Meadows described how Mr Kowalczyk was a rough sleeper who consumed alcohol and drugs. He shop lifted and begged around Manchester and at Manchester Airport.
The court heard he had mental health problems and had talked to police officers and health care professionals about taking his own life. Care plans had been put into place to assist him.
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The court heard how at 03.40am a security guard, Gary Onley, at Q Park car park, attended the car park to clean it and saw Mr Kowalczyk's feet "sticking out" from behind an air conditioning unit.
In a statement read out in court, Mr Onley, who said Mr Kowalczyk had been sleeping behind the air conditioning unit for a few weeks, said he first attempted to wake him, before realising he was dead: He said: "I looked at him and noticed his eyes were half open, his eyes were glazed and unresponsive." Mr Onley said he attempted to find a pulse with his fingers before calling 999 for an ambulance.
Seargeant Matthew Tarr of Greater Manchester Police confirmed police had been called by the ambulance service at 03.45am and that they had found Mr Kowalczyk "stuck down the side of an air conditioning unit, not breathing." They confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances linked to his death.
In a short statement read out in court, Mental Health practitioner Ruby Koval said Mr Kowalczyk "had a history of poor engagement with community services" and had discharged himself from treatment.
A toxicology report, carried out by toxicologist Julie Evans, revealed Mr Kowalczyk had alcohol in his system but had been under the legal limit for driving at the time of his death. The court heard he had a fatty liver and pancreatitis due to chronic alcohol misuse.
Mr Meadows said Mr Kowalczyk had died an alcohol related death and gave the cause of death as complications of alcohol misuse. He extended his condolences to Mr Kowalczyk's family - none of whom were in attendance.
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