A 55-year-old man died on New Year’s Day after neighbours found him in cardiac arrest at home, a court has heard.

Paul Hanley, of High Street in Gorleston, died at the James Paget Hospital (JPH) on January 1.

An inquest into his death - held at Norfolk Coroner's Court - heard that he had a long history of drug addiction, something he had actively sought help with from the substance abuse charity Change Grow Live (CGL).

The organisation confirmed to the court via a statement that while under its care Mr Hanley had stopped using illicit drugs. 

Towards the end of last year, he complained to CGL about weight loss, a sore throat and hoarseness. They advised him to see his GP, which he did. 

He was referred to the Ears, Nose and Throat (ENT) department at the JPH and was diagnosed with cancer of the throat. 

Despite the diagnosis, he was unable to undergo surgery and was put on palliative care. 

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READ MORE: To read all obituaries and tributes join the Facebook group Norfolk's Loved & Lost.

At around 9pm on December 31, 2023, he was discovered by friends and neighbours at his home struggling to breathe. 

They called for an ambulance and were advised to begin CPR. Paramedics then transferred him to the JPH where he died on January 1.

A post mortem examination confirmed that the medical cause of death was bilateral pneumonia and locally advance carcinoma of the larynx, contributed to by toxicity of multiple drugs.

Area coroner Yvonne Blake, concluded that his death was from "natural causes contributed to by drug toxicity”.

  • Change Grow Live is a drug and alcohol service that can be accessed by emailing norfolk.info@cgl.org.uk or ringing 01603 5140996.
  • To pay tribute to a loved one email norfolkobituaries@newsquest.co.uk