FRIENDS and family last night paid tribute to a 'gentle giant with a heart of gold' after an inquest heard how he died at home.

Christian Neil Bathie, 41, was found unresponsive on his sofa by his friend Mark Johnson on the morning of September 27 last year. 

During yesterday’s inquest into his death, the former Navy serviceman and Parkview School pupil was described as a “gentle giant”.

The hearing in Barrow Town Hall was told he had used anabolic steroids, orally and by injection, “on and off” for numerous years in a bid to boost his confidence. 

A post mortem showed he suffered a sudden cardiac death caused by the enlargement of the left side of his heart. His liver and spleen were also enlarged. 

Tom Allen, who regarded Mr Bathie as his best friend, said: "He was best man at my wedding. Even now I can't get my head around the fact that he has gone. 

"He was loving, caring, and extremely generous. He had an amazing sense of humour, no matter how bad things got.

The inquest heard Mr Bathie had battled schizophrenia and depression. He had been "traumatised" by the death of his dad Brian and brother Michael in close succession in 2013, and his relationship broke down some six months before his death. 

However, he had enjoyed a fun night out before he was found dead in his Hardy Street home in Barrow the following morning. 

His nephew Alexander Kilburn said he had been in good spirits that night and the coroner was satisfied there was no question he took his own life.

Summing up, and recording a verdict of death as a result of misadventure, Mr Robert Chapman, assistant Cumbria coroner, said: “Over many years he has taken them and, as is well known, steroids not only build your muscles in the arms, legs and back, but also the muscles within the body. 

“The heart is just another muscle. Quite a lot of people who take them on a regular basis have enlarged hearts. 

“It seems to me, the likelihood of what happened is that he clearly had quite a lot to drink, he had gone to bed, and during the course of the night, his heart just gave up.” 

Mr Bathie worked as a labourer when he left school, and then joined the Navy for around eight years. 

Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he was discharged and had not worked since. 

Mr Johnson told the inquest that his friend, who was around 6ft 6ins tall, had “troubles all his life since we left school”. 

He added: “It was a confidence thing. He had to be big all the time. From what I’m aware of, he’s been doing steroids on and off for years.” 

After the hearing, Mr Johnson paid tribute to a “lovely guy”. He added: “He was loved by a lot of people. He was very brotherly and a family type of person.” 

A statement from his mum, Christine Lucas, said: “He was a gentle giant. He would do without himself and give to others. He had a heart of gold."