A paratrooper who was in pain after a parachuting accident died after taking a lethal mix of home-made wine and paracetamol, an inquest heard.

Gavin Potts, a 24-year-old private with Colchester-based 2 Para, joined more than 400 other soldiers for the parachute jump as part of an exercise in Norfolk in July, 2001.

The inquest at Chelmsford Coroner's Court yesterday heard that Private Potts had suffered a fractured coccyx and neck injuries on landing at the jump on July 24.

Army medic corporal Shane Hodgson, who treated Pte Potts, said he landed hard and was tangled up with the parachute.

The father-of-two was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, for treatment. He later took paracetamol for the pain and was drinking heavily after the incident.

A pathologist's report said this death was caused by cardio-respiratory failure due to combined paracetamol and alcohol toxicity.

On October 11, the inquest heard he drank three bottles of home-made wine and was very drunk.

His widow, Sarah, found him choking on vomit and fluid at their home in Hornbeam Close, Colchester, in October, 2001.

He was rushed to hospital but remained unconscious and died four days later.

Mrs Potts, 29, told the jury at the inquest yesterday he had been taking his tablets at more frequent intervals than the recommended four hours.

She said: "He was also fed up because all his friends in his regiment had gone to Macedonia."

She added: "I know he would never have considered taking his own life. He wasn't depressed, he was frustrated."

Squadron leader Owen Roberts said there was an investigation after the accident.

"The parachute was taken away and inspected. There was nothing to suggest anything wrong with it."

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

Published Friday, January 17, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette