Newcastle holidaymaker's death in Mexico ruled 'accident' after cocaine and alcohol binge, inquest hears
A Newcastle holidaymaker died at a hotel in Mexico after spending days binging on cocaine and alcohol, an inquest has heard.
Dean Wright, from Westerhope, was on holiday with his girlfriend at the Hotel Riu Cancun in December 2019 when he passed away after days of partying. The 33-year-old's death was confirmed as his body lay on a luggage trolley and questions were soon raised by his family over the circumstances of how the 6ft 8in windfarm inspector died, with talk of him being involved in a scuffle in the hours before his passing.
But the mystery surrounding his death may now have been solved following an inquest at Newcastle Coroner's Court on Tuesday. The inquest was told that Dean had a fatty liver, a mildly enlarged heart and furring of the blood vessels - with up to half of his vessels blocked by atheroma, a fatty material which can clog arteries. Toxicology tests also discovered alcohol and cocaine in his system. Due to his enlarged heart and other health issues, the strain on his heart from taking cocaine would have been greater.
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The hearing, held in Newcastle city centre, heard Dean and his then-girlfriend, Rebecca Platts, went on a two week trip to Cancun - during which they both regularly bought cocaine and drank alcohol. Northumbria Police Detective Inspector Neill Jobling carried out a coronial investigation following the death. During interview with police, Rebecca said upon arrival at the resort Dean went “straight to the bar” and hardly slept or ate for the first three days of the trip, which caused “fractions in the relationship”.
At one point, Dean was said to have taken £400 worth of currency to the bar and socialised with other guests. The couple had also made friends with an American man who they bought cocaine from. On the day of his death, December 14, after repeated pleas for Dean to return to the room, Rebecca said she was alerted at about 7.30am by staff who notified her an ambulance had been called.
Det Insp Jobling added another witness, a man named Daniel Riley, was also interviewed, who claimed Dean had been involved in a “food fight” and was “the aggressor” in an altercation at the hotel bar. He said: "He witnessed an altercation within the bar. Dean was the aggressor and there was a suggestion there was a food fight." However, this witnesses account "lacked credibility" and was unavailable to be challenged, the inquest heard.
According to the witness, Dean then went to clean himself up in a bathroom, but was later seen receiving CPR by staff outside the bathroom. In his conclusion, Det Insp Jobling said “it is difficult attribute any third party action” and that “cocaine was clearly a factor”.
The inquest heard that before Dean was confirmed dead, he had been put on a luggage trolley in the hotel as he awaited treatment. Home Office Pathologist, Dr Louise Mulcahy, also gave evidence at the inquest and said an initial post-mortem was carried out in Mexico, but his heart and brain were not examined fully.
During her and other experts examinations back in the UK, Dr Mulcahy said that there were bruises and grazes all over Dean’s body, but confirmed they did not contribute to his death and that some of the exterior injuries could have been caused from the post-mortem process and his return to the UK.
Assistant Coroner Karen Dilks asked the doctor: “Is it your view these injuries did not indicate third party involvement?"
Dr Mulcahy replied: “The only injuries that would potentially cause concern was a black eye. However, that could have occurred from a simple fall or collapse.”
Dr Mulcahy said following examinations back in the UK, Dean was found to have a mildly enlarged heart and that there was no evidence of traumatic brain injury or swelling. There were no fractures to his face or skull and "no evidence of sharp force trauma", such as from a knife.
Dr Mulcahy said: "There was no evidence of the use of a weapon and his outer injuries could have been from an accident or a fall. There was no evidence he had been physically assaulted, but I can't exclude that the black eye was not the result of a blow to the face."
She said that the black eye could have easily been the result of a fall, adding: "There is nothing to support the notion of an assault."
Giving a medical cause of death in her conclusion, Dr Mulcahy said: "Dean's consumption of cocaine and alcohol likely precipitated a fatal cardiac arrhythmia and his subsequent death."
The inquest also heard a statement from Dean's mother, Maria, who said her son had worked all over the world in his role as a windfarm inspector, and loved travelling. She said he was a keen rugby player - playing at county level - and a season ticket holder at Newcastle United and would regularly gift friends whis ticket if he was working away.
Maria added: "The loss of Dean had a huge impact [on the family]. We are completely devastated and completely broken...his death made us all aware of our own mortality. He would give you his last penny. He didn't have enemies, he was never lonely. We want him to be remembered for his happiness and the generous person he was."
Giving a short form conclusion, Assistant Coroner Karen Dilks, said there was no definitive evidence Dean had been assaulted or sustained injuries that contributed to his death. She concluded Dean's death was an accident.