A YOUNG man who battled with mental health and drug issues for most of his life died in a stranger's flat miles from home, an inquest heard.

Michael Gallacher was found unconscious and unresponsive on the floor of a flat in Egerton Court, Barrow on December 18 2015.

The breakdown of a relationship with a local woman left the 29-year-old homeless but after a chance encounter in Dalton Road, he managed to get a roof over his head for the night.

Mr Gallacher struck up a conversation with James Hayes who offered him a place to stay for the night.

A few hours after the pair arrived, Mr Hayes was on the phone to the ambulance service, fighting to save Mr Gallacher's life.

A transcript of the conversation with the operator was read out to the inquest on Tuesday, detailing Mr Hayes' attempt to save the man's life.

He said: "Come on kid, help me, help me. Come on lad, don't do this to me."

Ambulance crews arrived, but Mr Gallacher had sadly died.

At the inquest, Mr Gallacher's mother Lorraine, from Hamilton in Scotland, said she loved her son unconditionally, but was frustrated by his life choices.

In 2011 she learned that her son was taking class A drugs, in particular heroin, but had tried to kick the habit at several Christian rehab centres.

She said: "Over the past couple of years he attended rehab centres where he sought help for drug and alcohol addiction. He became a born-again Christian. I was always happy when he was in rehab."

On the day he died, Mr Gallacher had attended Furness General Hospital asking for a mental health assessment. The on-call practitioner believed he was a low risk to himself or others, and he was released one hour later.

The movements of Mr Gallacher were not known between leaving FGH and when he met Mr Hayes, but assistant coroner Mr Robert Chapman said it was clear that during this time he had managed to obtain and take drugs.

A toxicology and pathologist's report found cocaine, morphine and alcohol in his system.

Mr Chapman ruled that Mr Gallacher's death was drugs related, saying to Mrs Gallacher: "I'm so sorry you've lost your son in these circumstances."

To find out how to get help with addiction, visit www.talktofrank.com .

For mental health support, visit www.samaritans.org or call 116 123.