A MAN who was found collapsed on a bench in Barnsley town centre died of an overdose of ketamine and alcohol and also had the drug known as ‘spice’ in his system, an inquest was told this week.
But the police investigation into the death could still be reopened if an unknown man he was in touch with in his last hours is identified.
Josh Reynolds, a 27-year-old scaffolder, had been found on a bench in the Courthouse car park on August 20.
He had been out with friends the night before, but was said to have left them and was found on the bench in the early hours of the morning.
His mum Lisa Walker told the Chronicle in the week after his death last year that her son had faced issues with drugs in the past, but thought he had ‘turned a corner’.
Josh was very popular and the bench where he died quickly became a shrine adorned with photos, messages and gifts in his memory. A plaque is now in place on the bench.
“A light has gone out in the town,” Lisa said at the time.
DC Stephen Broughton, of Barnsley Police Station, gave evidence at the hearing at Sheffield’s Medico Legal Centre on Monday.
He said that Josh, known as ‘Squash’ to friends and family, received a text from an unknown source - referred to as Benny - about ketamine an hour and a half before his death.
It was heard that Josh had been a user of ketamine for a long time but DC Broughton said there was no indication from Josh’s friends that he had met someone to buy or take the class B drug.
“His friends left during various stages of the evening prior to him being found,” said DC Broughton.
“He had had an argument with his grandmother, Christine, who he was staying with at the time.
“We don’t know whether he contacted this Benny for ketamine. Friends said he had been on a social night out and they said they had been drinking as well as Josh.
“CCTV pictures received showed Josh in the town centre and his demeanour signals he was quite drunk as he was walking from side to side.”
DC Broughton said an unknown man had been found with Josh and had tried to resuscitate him by performing CPR, and police were not sure whether this individual was a stranger who found Josh or if this was Benny.
The police investigation into Josh’s death was confirmed as closed, but it could be reopened if information was brought forward about Benny.
Assistant coroner Abigail Combes said Josh had been in contact with HumanKind - Barnsley Recovery Steps, which is a charity that aims to work with individuals on their journey to recover from drugs and/or alcohol.
“Reports show that Josh contacted them (HumanKind) back in October 2017 about his use of ketamine,’ said Ms Combes.
“His last contact was December 13 that year, then he was discharged. In terms of toxicology reports there was recent use of ketamine. There was also spice found in his system.”
Ms Combes confirmed the cause of death of Josh was an overdose of ketamine and alcohol. She also gave her condolences to Josh’s family on their loss.
