A HEROIN user who collapsed immediately after injecting himself with the drug, died hours later of an unrelated illness, an inquest has heard.

Twenty-seven-year-old Justin Carswell, a warehouse supervisor from Farmers Close, Droitwich, died after suffering a "massive pulmonary embolism" at his home on Friday, September 20.

A pathologist report confirmed that deep vein thrombosis, rather than drug use, had caused the embolism.

"Essentially a blob of blood from his leg had been pumped round his body and it blocked his lungs," said Coroner Victor Round.

"Deep vein thrombosis is uncommon in someone in their 20s and sometimes the use of intravenous drugs can damage veins, but there is not enough evidence here for me to add this to the primary cause of death."

Mr Round recorded a verdict of misadventure at Worcestershire County Coroner's Court, in Bewdley Road, Stourport-on-Severn, yesterday.