A ‘much-loved’ member of a Stockport family died after being found collapsed in the street, an inquest has found.
Nicholas John Maher, known as Nick, was 43 when he died in January 2021. He was found collapsed in the street outside Radnor House on Moseley Street in Edgeley by a passerby.
The passerby called for an ambulance at around 7.30pm but paramedics pronounced Nick, who was homeless at the time, dead a short time later.
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At an inquest into Nick’s death today (March 16), brother Tim said he was a ‘much-loved member of the family’, having been brought up with three older siblings in Offerton.
“He had many friends and is dearly missed. He was outgoing and good fun,” his brother added in a statement. Tim also told coroner Chris Morris about Nick’s struggles with alcohol and drug use, which stemmed back to the breakdown of a relationship in his 20s.
Tim’s statement continued: “In his early 20s, he started a relationship with a girl from Warrington. They moved in together over there. It came to an end [so] he moved in with me.
“He could not accept it was over. He tried to get in contact with her and ended up in prison. [After], he was spending most of his wages on alcohol.”
Nick’s drinking continued throughout his 30s, the court heard, with his family doing their best to support him.
“He would turn up unannounced at his sister’s but became confrontational if he had a drink,” Tim said. “He had a childhood friend who would take him in. He last saw him a couple of nights before he died but became confrontational and was asked to leave.”
Shortly before Nick’s passing, he went to hospital after fracturing his neck — which he said was caused by someone pushing or pulling him down the stairs at a hostel. After being treated for several days, Nick self-discharged from Stepping Hill, despite concern that his neck was still ‘unstable’.
However, pathologist Dr Charles Wilson said that these injuries were not a factor in his death.
Dr Wilson told the court: “On the balance of probabilities, because there is no other reasonable cause of death, [my view is a] combination of alcohol and cocaine toxicity [killed Nick].”
Coroner Chris Morris elected to agree with the pathologist, recording a primary cause of death as cocaine and alcohol toxicity.
He added: “He was found dead on January 28, 2021, outside Radnor House on Moseley Street as a consequence of drug and alcohol toxicity. I am really sorry to read of his decline over the years. It is obvious that you as a family tried to support him in any way you could. You have my deepest sympathies.”
