A BRIERLEY Hill man who died after a night out drinking with friends, died as a result of an accident, an inquest heard.

Adam Mason, aged 22, from Carder Drive, had gone out with two friends on August 21.

Dudley Coroners’ Court heard Adam had been picked up by his friend Martin Smith, before going to David Buckley’s house in Pedmore.

David told the court he had been friends with Adam since school and they often went out drinking together.

He said they had all taken different substances such as smoking cannabis and cocaine over the years but it was not a regular thing.

The court heard during the evening they visited the Foley Arms in Oldswinford, before going to the Old White Horse in Norton.

David said: “Adam said he felt wrecked and he did seem like he was, but he was still ok, but obviously for Adam to say he how he felt he must have been feeling bad.”

After drinking at the Old White Horse, David told the court, he and Adam also took cocaine, before moving on the Lyttleton Arms in Hagley.

When asked if he knew about Adam taking methadone, he said “Adam told me at the Foley Arms he had taken methadone, when I asked how much he had had, he just laughed it off.

“I did not see him take any methadone and I don’t know where he got it from.”

The group left the third pub at around 12.30am and went to David’s house, where Adam fell asleep at around 3.30am.

The next morning David had trouble waking him and called Martin, who came round before deciding to take Adam to Russells Hall Hospital.

Adam died a few days later on August 26, from brain damage caused by a heart attack due to drink and drugs misuse.

A toxicology report showed evidence of cannabis, alcohol and a high level of methadone and also evidence of cocaine in his urine.

Recording a verdict of accidental death on November 26, Black Country coroner Robin Balmain said: “It seems to me that young people don’t know that when they take drugs and alcohol what it is going to do them and the dangerous consequences it can have.

“This was the direct cause of Adams death.

“This a lesson to be learnt and I hope young people learn from it.

“I am very sorry this has happened to you.”