A man died in Bolton as a result of taking drugs – but his family were unaware he had ever taken the drug.

Police were called to an address on Bury Road in the town on on May 21 this year.

The found Sean Waterworth, aged 36, deceased in the property.

An inquest into his death took place at Bolton Coroners' Court this week.

The cause of death given by pathologist Andrew Coates was heroin toxicity.

But a statement given by sister Alison Waterhouse said the family were unaware of his issues with drugs.

It said he was born in Buxton and had two sisters.

He was a factory worker who moved to Bolton in 2018.

Mr Waterworth was in a relationship with a woman in London and had plans to move there.

The statement said: “He had been a drinker, he drank quite heavily for some years, he had gone to rehab in 2017 he had done really well.

“The family thought he had made a full recovery.

“The family were not fully aware of his lifestyle.

“The family were aware he had struggled with recreational drugs they were not aware he had consumed heroin.

“The family were shocked to learn about the use of heroin.”

But the family also said they had no questions for the coroner to consider.

Wendy Fisher, a recovery co-ordinator at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust said in a statement Mr Waterworth had been seen by drug service Achieve in June 2022.

She said Mr Waterworth told her he was drinking one cider per day and also taking Diazepam which had not been prescribed to him but wanted to become abstinent.

Ms Fisher said he also said he had experimented with drugs in the past and had taken heroin once but did not like it.

Coroner Peter Sigee recorded a conclusion that the death was drug related.

He said: “Mr Waterworth had a known history of substance abuse, is death was caused by heroin toxicity.

“I must conclude this his death was drug related.”

He offered his condolences to the family who attended at court.