Ormskirk father describes his shock at cocaine link to son’s death

Dec 24 2009 by Gemma Jaleel, Ormskirk Advertiser

A DEVOTED father has spoken about his heartbreak at spending his first Christmas without his eldest son.

John Forth, 30, passed away on July 27 this year at his father Michael’s home on St Helens Road, Ormskirk.

The former St Bede’s pupil had a son Michael, aged three, and was planning to marry his fiancée Nicki McMurray in Mexico in June next year.

Michael had been caring for John after he was involved in a serious accident in which his car struck a tree.

John was left with a broken skull, cheekbone, collarbone, arm and ribs, resulting in a collapsed lung.

John suffered a stroke from the impact, which left him unable to speak or walk.

Now, Michael has told the Advertiser of his dismay after a coroner revealed that John died after dangerously high levels of cocaine were found in his body.

An inquest heard that John died due to a combination of cocaine toxicity plus narrowing of the coronary arteries, known as atheroma.

Pathologist Paul Mansour told the court that either factor on its own could have caused John’s death.

Michael said: “I just can’t believe it. I looked after him 24/7. I don’t know when he could have used this drug without me knowing.

“He was in a lot of pain. I know that if someone offered him a cornflake and said ‘take this, it will ease your pain’ – he would have taken it.”

“He must have taken the cocaine thinking it would ease his pain.”