Anxiety drug contributed to paddling pool death

Roan Bloore drowned in a paddling pool in June

A man who accidentally drowned while emptying a paddling pool was under the influence of a non-prescribed medication, a coroner has said.

Roan Bloore, 24, was found face down in around six inches (15cm) of water in his family's garden in Doncaster on 25 June.

Doncaster Coroner's Court heard prior to his death, Mr Bloore had taken several pregabalin tablets, which are widely used to treat anxiety and epilepsy, and had been prescribed to his father.

Paying tribute to him after the hearing on Friday, his family described him as a "happy", "gentle giant" who would be missed.

The court heard Mr Bloore and his sister were at home with friends while his parents were away on holiday.

In the early afternoon of 25 June, Mr Bloore was said to have taken the pills alongside a number of painkillers, appearing "happy" and not "under the influence".

Later that day, he decided to empty the paddling pool in the garden but when it became "more quiet than usual", one friend decided to check on him.

Roan Bloore was described as "funny" and "happy" by his family

In his written evidence, the friend said when he discovered Mr Bloore face down, he initially thought he was "messing with us" before realising what had happened.

Emergency services were called and Mr Bloore was taken to hospital, where he died the following morning.

Tests later showed "excess but non-fatal" pregabalin levels in his blood as well as injuries consistent with drowning.

Assistant Coroner Elizabeth Wheeler said Mr Bloore was known to use medicine prescribed to others and, on occasion, recreational drugs.

She said Mr Bloore had been in the water "no less than 10 minutes" and there had been no evidence of physical injuries that would have prevented him from pushing himself out of the pool after falling into it.

'Will be missed'

"Ultimately, I accept the pathology evidence. Acute pregabalin toxicity would have affected his cognitive and coordination abilities to recover from the situation," she told the court.

"I therefore find that pregabalin intoxication is a more than minimal contributor to Mr Bloore's death."

She recorded that Mr Bloore died as a result of drowning, an accident that had been contributed to by the intoxicating effects of non-prescribed medication.

Paying tribute to him after the inquest, Mr Bloore's family said he loved animals, was "funny" and "liked a good laugh".

"He was very happy," they said. "He will be missed."

They thanked emergency services, including the police and ambulance teams, for their efforts.

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