A labourer who was known to his friends as a heavy drinker died from a heroin overdose, an inquest heard.

Alvin Buck, 39, was found dead at his home in Gibbs Crescent, off Mill Street, Oxford, on October 14 last year.

Stephen Shoult, a friend of Mr Buck's who had been living with him for about a month, said he left the property on the morning of October 13 and returned the next day at about 10.30am to find Mr Buck slumped in a chair, naked from the waist up.

Mr Shoult said he knew Mr Buck drank a lot, but did not know him as a heroin user.

Consultant pathologist Dr Peter Millard, from the John Radcliffe Hospital, said heroin levels found in Mr Buck's blood were almost twice as high as those normally linked with fatalities. Dr Millard said injection marks of varying ages were also found in Mr Buck's arms.

Tayna Buck, who had been married to Mr Buck's older brother, said she had known him for about 25 years.

Mr Buck first told her he had taken heroin in July last year, but Ms Buck said she did not know he was using it regularly.

Det Cons Matthew Rogers, from Oxford CID, said an empty syringe and a tourniquet made from a belt were found by Mr Buck's bed.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded an open verdict.

He said there was nothing in the evidence to confirm whether Mr Buck had taken heroin intending to kill himself, or whether he had used the drug for recreation.