Drug abuse claimed the life of househusband and father-of-three Garry Waple, an inquest was told.

Mr Waple, 32, from Giffords Cross Avenue, Corringham, had been a househusband for three years and started using cocaine about two years ago.

On May 7, his wife Michelle came home to find him sorting out some washing upstairs.

She started to prepare dinner for their two children but then heard some loud bangs and ran upstairs to find him on the floor.

He appeared to be having a fit and was making snoring noises, the inquest at Chelmsford's Shire Hall heard.

She desperately tried to resuscitate her husband of four years until an ambulance arrived at their home and took him to Basildon Hospital.

Mr Waple was in a coma until the ventilator was turned off on May 10.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded a verdict of dependant abuse of drugs and offered her sympathy to all those left behind.

Published Monday August 30, 2004

Brought to you by the Evening Echo