A family paid tribute to a 'lovely person who would help anyone' after his sudden tragic death at the age of just 43.

Jamie Alexander Brown was found unresponsive at his family home in Riding Gate, Harwood, in November 27 last year.

An inquest into his death found that Mr Brown had an enlarged heart, which he did not know about.

The father-of-two was educated at Bolton School before becoming an electrical engineer, working with his dad, and then setting up his own company.

His wife, Laura Brown, described him in a statement as: “Very active and loved outdoors.

“He would go for walks, and he liked skiing, and cycling, and was physically fit.

“He was really hard-working, grafting long hours."

She said Mr Brown had seemed more tired than usual in the months leading up to his death.

His dad, Anthony Brown paid tribute to his son and called it a ‘tragic’ death.

He said: “Over 300 people attended the wake for his funeral.

“He was just a lovely person, who would help anybody, and held no malice with anyone.

“It is just a tragic loss.”

Mr Brown attended Royal Bolton Hospital days before his death and was diagnosed with salivary gland infection, which left one side of his face swollen, leaving him unable to talk or eat much.

But the infection is not a fatal condition.

At the hospital, Mr Brown was given antibiotics and pain relief, with codeine given to alleviate symptoms as he was discharged.

The family told the inquest Mr Brown had been released from hospital while still very ill and said it was far too early, but the consultant who saw Jamie said that his observations were normal, and routine procedure was followed.

Mr Brown's wife had taken children to school morning of November 27 but once back, she could not wake  her husband up and noticed he was cold.

Paramedics at the scene said Mr Brown had most likely died during the night and did not suffer.

Pathologist, Dr Patrick Waugh gave the reason for death as combined drug toxicity with dilated cardiomyopathy as a contributing factor.

This is where the heart is enlarged and can cause sudden death or eventual heart failure.

A toxicology report showed that morphine, which may have derived from the codeine, and cocaine were found in his system.

Dr Waugh said: “Anyone with dilated cardiomyathopy can be susceptible to sudden death and can easily malfunction.

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“Cocaine and morphine are a bad combination of drugs in someone who already has an enlarged heart, but he was probably symptom free."

When asked by the family if Jamie would have died if he had not taken the morphine or cocaine, Dr Waugh said: "I cannot say for certain, as he had an enlarged heart.

"These drugs are bad for you regardless, and Mr Brown could have died with just an enlarged heart.

"Cocaine and morphine could also cause death in anyone."

Out of 28 tablets from November 25, 11 were left by the time Jamie died on November 27.

To conclude, Mr Nelson said Jamie’s death was a combination of natural and unnatural causes.

He said: “I have to conclude a narrative death as my decision.

“There was a combination of natural and unnatural causes.

"I am satisfied Dr Waugh has given the cause of death as 1a  combined drug toxicity with dilated cardiomyopathy as a contributing factor."