The 28-year-old had a cocktail of drugs in his system.
The son of Wandsworth Council’s former leader died after collapsing on an island in Thailand and was found to have a cocktail of drugs in his system, an inquest heard this week.
Andrew Udny-Lister, 28, died of heart failure following a full moon party on the island of Koh Phangan in September 2011.
A post-mortem examination suggested there was heavy use of cocaine and heroin over a four month period, but could not say if this caused the death.
Mr Udny-Lister, the son of Deputy London Mayor Sir Edward Lister, went to Roehampton Church School and All Saints Putney, and followed in his father’s footsteps to work at Wandsworth Council as a housing officer.
Westminster Coroner’s Court heard how Mr Udny-Lister had travelled with his friends to the popular resort for a two week holiday, and had been drinking heavily the night before his death.
His friend Daniel Parsons, who discovered him unconscious, said that he had not seen Mr Udny-Lister take any illegal drugs.
“But it is not beyond the realm of possibility that, knowingly or unknowingly, he consumed something,” he said.
“He was definitely not known as a drug user, but he might have experimented at social gatherings and parties as many did within our social circles.”
The court heard Mr Udny-Lister went back to the guesthouse at around midnight where they carried on drinking.
He went to his bedroom and at around 4.30am was found lying unconscious on his bed. He was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Investigators found there were no injuries on his body, no evidence of third party involvement and that his death “was not caused by criminal conduct”, the inquest was told.
Coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox delivered a narrative verdict, saying said she could not give a cause of death and that it was due to a “combination of all these circumstances that led to Andrew’s death – lack of sleep, alcohol and drugs.”
Sir Edward Lister paid tribute to his son.
“He was a Southfields man, who could regularly be seen in the area and loved his home town,” he said.
“He was very loyal to his friends and was very, very sociable, he enjoyed company but was equally happy with his own company.
“Andrew, we all loved him, and for us, life will never be the same again.”
Photo courtesy of surreynews, with thanks.
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