Struggling student died in Leeds halls of residence after taking lethal cocktail of drugs
A struggling student who died in his Leeds halls of residence was self-medicating and had taken a lethal cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard.
The body of Oscar Foster-Lennie was found in his friend’s room at IQ on Cross Chancellor Street, Woodhouse, in October last year.
He had turned 19 just two weeks prior and had started his degree at Leeds Beckett University, studying business management and sustainable development.
His inquest was concluded at Wakefield Coroner’s Court.
A pathologist’s report found that he had taken a high dose of heroin, one that could have even been fatal to a chronic user with a higher tolerance level, as well as other drugs in his system.
The hearing was told that Oscar, who was from Hull, suffered from insomnia and was diagnosed with ADHD and irritable bowel syndrome.
He would use cannabis and the tranquiliser, diazepam, to self-medicate and help him sleep.
In a statement written by his mother, Louise Foster, and read out by area coroner Oliver Longstaff, she said his conditions would flare up during stressful times of transition.
With his move to university, his condition deteriorated in the weeks leading up to his death, and his condition was described by his parents as “completely delusional and semi psychotic”.
He made numerous calls to his family in the days before his death.
At one point he rang his brother at 4am, thinking it was 4pm, and rang his father 27 times in a single day.
His deeply worried parents contacted the university’s wellbeing team, who were aware of his condition.
The day before his death, his father spent the day with him and took him to a GP.
Oscar’s body was found in his friend’s room around lunchtime on October 9 last year.
It was thought he had died hours before. Following a postmortem, his cause of death was recorded as multi-drug toxicity.
A flatmate later told police that Oscar had not slept “for days”.
Mr Longstaff recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.