A DAD-OF-TWO will be remembered for his ‘cheeky smile’ and ‘heart of gold’, an inquest has heard.

Adam Price, of Stackwood Avenue in Barrow, died on October 29 at Furness General Hospital.

Cockermouth Coroner’s Court heard the 27-year-old had ingested a number of drugs before going into cardiac arrest at his partner’s home in Barrow.

Mr Price, who worked as a production operative, was described by his mum Tracey Mansell as a ‘happy go-lucky lad’ who doted on his children.

She said: “Adam was a cheeky boy. He was a proper lad’s lad who enjoyed cars and the outdoors.

“He became a dad at 19 to his first son and later had another son. They were his life. He doted on his boys.

“He was a happy-go-lucky lad with a cheeky smile and a heart of gold. He would help anyone with anything.”

Mr Price began a relationship with Ella Woods three years ago which the family described as ‘very up and down’.

He began drinking and taking drugs, the court heard, and spent time at Dane Garth after experiencing drug-induced psychosis.

He expressed interest in moving back home but his mum insisted that there were no drugs in the house which Mr Price agreed to.

Mr Price resumed his relationship with Ms Woods, staying at her house on the weekends with his two sons, the inquest heard.

On the evening of October 28 Mr Price was stopping at Ms Woods’ home and sent his mum various messages late in the night.

She received a phone call from Ms Woods at 2.55am to say the pair had had an argument and Mr Price was upstairs ‘talking to himself’ and ‘making noises’.

Ms Woods told the court that Mr Price appeared very paranoid and believed there were people in the house.

While on the phone to Ms Mansell, Ms Woods said he had ‘gone quiet’ and after finding him on the hallway floor unresponsive she attempted to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Ms Mansell set off to the address and found her son unresponsive lying on the floor. She began chest compressions before police officers and paramedics took over.

Mr Price was rushed into Furness General Hospital at 4.45am in a state of cardiac arrest and he was placed on a ventilator. He was pronounced deceased at 8.40am.

Ms Wood’s told the court that Mr Price had exhibited paranoid behaviour in the past and used to sleep with knives under the bed due to concerns of people in the house.

She said she threatened to leave him if he continued taking the drugs.

“Unfortunately the drugs took hold of him,” Ms Wood’s told the court.

“He was one of the best humans I ever knew. He always had everyone in fits of laughter.”

Reacting to the news of her son’s sudden death, Ms Mansell told the court: “I am still so confused as to what happened and why Adam would take drugs when looking after his boys. He was usually very open about his drug use. He was a happy-go lucky boy, everyone misses him terribly. He could light up any room.

“This is the most painful thing we have ever gone through as a family. Part of us will never feel whole again.”

Mr Price’s GP at Abbey Road Surgery said he had a history of depression and was referred to mental health teams and prescribed medication.

A toxicology report found the presence of cocaine, cannabis and naloxone in Mr Price’s system at the time of death. A cause of death was given as cocaine toxicity.

Coroner Margaret Taylor recorded a conclusion of a drug-related death.