Huddersfield man dies after drink and drugs overdose

Apr 2 2009 By Emma Davison

A HUDDERSFIELD man was found dead in his flat after taking a lethal cocktail of alcohol and prescription drugs.

Dorian Merrick’s body was found by police after being alerted by a neighbour.

Empty packets of painkillers were found nearby in the flat at Buxton Court in Huddersfield town centre.

A post-mortem examination revealed that the 44-year-old had overdosed on a mix of codeine and alcohol.

The Huddersfield inquest heard that Mr Merrick had a long history of depression and alcohol abuse.

He suffered from epilepsy since banging his head eight years previously and was prone to fits as a result.

The unemployed man had taken several overdoses but had always refused further treatment when seen by medics.

The Huddersfield inquest heard that in October last year, tests at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary revealed a cyst on Mr Merrick’s pancreas.

However, he discharged himself without finding out how serious it was. He told doctors he was worried about further tests but denied contemplating suicide.

On November 2, Mr Merrick’s neighbour John Gorman said he saw him with tablets and a bottle of drink.