A “REALLY nice, intelligent bloke” was killed by a combination of heroin and alcohol, a coroner has ruled.

Mathew Sullivan, of Egrove Close, South Oxford, was found unconscious in a West Oxford flat on July 27.

The 35-year-old carpenter had a history of alcohol abuse, but was not a regular drug user, Oxford Coroner’s Court was told.

Pathologist Dr David Delaney said Mr Sullivan’s alcohol level showed he was more than two times the drink-drive limit, but had relatively low amounts of opiates in his system.

Simon Weygan, in whose flat in Ferry Hinksey Road Mr Sullivan was found, said he had met Mr Sullivan when the pair attended Spanish classes at the Gap Project in Park End Street, Oxford.

He said Mr Sullivan had drunk nearly a bottle of vodka that day and was “absolutely sozzled” when they met up that evening. He said they shared £4 worth of heroin, which he said was “negligible”, before he went to bed at about midnight.

Mr Weygang found his friend unresponsive on the sofa at 2.45am. He immediately phoned for an ambulance and attempted resuscitation, which he had also been taught at the Gap Project.

He said: “He was a really nice bloke, an intelligent chap who was well brought up. It’s such a shame. It’s taught me a lesson, I think I’ve had some (drugs) once since then.”

Deputy Coroner Alison Thompson recorded a verdict of death by misadventure on Wednesday.

She said: “Neither the alcohol or drugs on their own would have caused the death, but in combination had the effect of reducing respiratory effort.”