TRIBUTES were paid to a 'caring and loving' son at an inquest yesterday.

Andrew Stephen Tinnoth Snape, 43, died on September 13, 2021, at the Wigton home where he lived with his parents.

An inquest in Cockermouth heard from his mother, Mary, that Mr Snape was a 'caring, loving person'. 

He had a small circle of close friends and a dog he loved very much, she said.

He was born in Southport and the family moved to Cumbria when he was at the end of his primary school education. He went to Keswick School.

As a child he was diagnosed with asthma and suffered a few bad attacks, said Mrs Snape.

After school he worked for a motor spares company. He later worked for Logic, in computers, for a few years before being made redundant.

READ MORE: Sleeping driver took cocaine Carlisle court hears

His GP, Dr Richard Massey, of Caldbeck Surgery, said Mr Snape had a history of mental health problems and was on various medications for anxiety, head aches and depression.

He had a past history of drug and alcohol misuse, the inquest heard. He developed chronic pancreatitis and had diabetes.

He stopped drinking in 2017, said Mrs Snape. “We thought we had our Andrew back,” she said.

“The last 12 months he had headaches which made him feel low,” said Mrs Snape.

He started taking a herbal remedy for depression, she said. He bought it online.

The inquest heard that police were called when Mr Snape’s parents had gone away for the weekend and been unable to contact their son.

Officers forced entry to the Mealsgate property and found Mr Snape unresponsive in his bedroom. A paramedic declared him deceased.

A toxicology report revealed amphetamines (well below the toxic range) and prescribed medication below or within the therapeutic range. It also showed mitragynine, which is found in a herbal plant and has opiod and stimulant effects.

Death associated with the herbal remedy within which this is found is "widely debated and controversial", the inquest heard.

Combined use of amphetamines and prescribed drugs may have enhanced the effects of the mitragynine, said the toxicologist.

READ MORE: It's all change for Tommy after 50 years at Carlisle station

Mr Snape's lungs showed congestion and edema, there were signs of early bronchial pneumonia.

A post mortem gave the medical cause of death as: chronic obstructive airways disease, mixed drug use and pulmonary edema.

Area coroner Kirsty Gomersal gave a narrative conclusion: “Andrew’s death was due to natural disease and the combination of prescribed and non-prescribed medication."

She said: "I offer my most sincere condolences to the family on the death of their loved one. This is a sad and tragic loss.

"Andrew was a much-loved son, caring and loving. He had a close circle of friends and it was clear he was close to his mother and father."

READ MORE: Police charge Workington man in connection with serious assault