Chemistry student died from heroin overdose, inquest is told

A 36-year-old chemistry student from Poland died of a heroin overdose in his Slough home, an inquest was told today (Tuesday).

Pavel Chockrek, of Adelphi Gardens, was found lying still in his flat at about 9.30pm on October 5 by his landlord Kamil Cosiva, who immediately called an ambulance and performed CPR on him as instructed.

Paramedics arrived at 10.15pm describing Mr Chockrek as ‘cold to touch’, having no pulse and not breathing.

A toxicology report stated that morphine and codeine were found in Mr Chockrek’s blood as well as ‘recreational’ quantities of cocaine and alcohol.

Coroner Peter Bedford suggested the presence of codeine indicated Chockrek died from a heroin overdose, as codeine is a common contaminant of heroin.

Mr Chockrek, who was studying for a masters degree, was described by Mr Cosiva as being open about his drug and alcohol habits and was on medication for what may have been bipolar disorder.

Mr Cosiva said he saw Mr Chockrek injecting what may have been heroin a few days before his death.

The inquest heard that Mr Chockrek had a strong interest in illicit substances and often took them home to study how they worked, which in the past had led to him going to hospital.

A statement from Mr Chockrek’s sister Alicaj Badliska, who lives in Poland, was read out at the inquest.

It read: “He had a good knowledge of chemistry but misused that knowledge.”

Mr Bedford concluded that Mr Chockrek died of an unintentional drug overdose which may have resulted from a misjudgement of drug tolerance.