Cambridge student Thomas Millward's death accidental

Thomas Millward died of a brain injury the day after he fell from a stairwell at Girton College

A Cambridge University student who took a hallucinogenic drug before falling to his death died accidentally, an inquest has concluded.

Thomas Millward, 19, was found unconscious at the foot of a Girton College stairwell on 5 March last year.

The first-year engineering student suffered a traumatic brain injury and died in hospital the next day.

Assistant coroner Simon Milburn said Mr Millward's family had been through "an incredibly difficult experience".

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The court was told Mr Millward and his girlfriend Daniella Mieloszyk had taken a substance which was probably 1P-LSD, a legal high at the time - which has since been banned.

At an earlier hearing, toxicology expert Dr Susan Paterson said of the "mind-altering" substances: "It's possible to think you can actually fly. That's well-recorded with this drug."

Jurors unanimously concluded that Mr Millward's death was an accident.

Mr Millward, 19, from Cheltenham, was a first year engineering student at Girton College

'Loyal friend'

Mr Milburn expressed his condolences to Mr Millward's parents, Brian and Maisa, and sister Izy, who attended the three-day inquest in Huntingdon.

After the hearing, a statement released from Girton College said a strict anti-drugs policy at the university - which students sign on arrival - had been updated to include legal highs.

"During his time at Cambridge, Thomas Millward was a loyal friend to those who knew him, a gifted student and a talented sportsman," the statement read.

"Girton College is a close-knit community and everyone was deeply affected by his death.

"We offer our sincere condolences to Thomas's family and friends and continue to offer welfare support to students and staff affected by this tragedy."

Mr Millward's family made no comment after the hearing.