THE death of a talented young Bury man dedicated to helping others was a message to others of the risks of dabbling in drugs to any degree, a coroner said.

Bury District Coroner Mr Simon Nelson was conducting the inquest into the death of 29-year-old Ross Chant, of Greenhill Road, Bury, who was found by his mother in his loft bedroom unconscious with a syringe nearby last November. He was certified dead at Fairfield General Hospital. It was not the relatively small amount of heroin he had injected which caused his death but it caused him him to choke on the contents of his stomach.

Recording a verdict of death by "misadventure," Mr Nelson said Ross was a loving son in a close and stable family who had left himself open to temptation with unforeseen consequences.

Ross's family had little inclination of his abuse of drugs and to some extent there had been naivety. It was the type of scenario which was not uncommon amongst many families who never suspected that such a thing was ongoing.

"Ross was an intelligent young man who certainly intended to help others borne out by the very caring nature he had. I can imagine the shock to members of his family when after his death certain elements of drugs paraphernalia were discovered indicative of drugs abuse to a limited degree," said Mr Nelson.

Ross attended London Guildhill University studying politics but then switched to Manchester Metropolitan University to take an English language degree with the intention of teaching English to foreign students.

As a volunteer with the Rathbone Society, Ross intended to go to Thailand to teach English.

Mrs Wendy Chant told the coroner: "Ross was a lovely caring boy and we were all very close. There were no tell-tale signs, no change of mood, no erratic behaviour, to suggest drugs use."

On the day in question Ross had been discussing with his father what Christmas present to get his mum. They had been doing a crossword then Ross went to his bedroom. Mrs Chant solved two outstanding clues in the crossword and went up to tell Ross only to find him unconscious. She said two years ago Ross had collapsed in his bedroom but later recovered but it was only after his death that the suspicion arose that that had possibly been due to drugs as well.

A friend Larry Dilger, from Radcliffe, said he knew although Ross would stop taking drugs for periods a bad result at college would make him vulnerable to temptation and there was an unknown person who would ring him up inviting him "to score." People offered Ross drugs because they knew he would pay.

"But Ross would never lie or steal to get drugs. He was a good person and the best person that I've met in the world."

The coroner was told that Mr Dilger, who did not attend the inquest but made a statement, was himself a user of drugs who Ross had helped out. Ross had taken him to the countryside, cleaned out his flat, and tried to sort out his problems.

Mrs Chant said after the inquest:" Ross was a very caring boy and we hope that if the coroner's message about the abuse of drugs gets home to others then Ross's life will not have been in vain."ends

THE death of a talented young man dedicated to helping others should send out a message about the risks of dabbling in drugs, a coroner has warned.

Bury District Coroner Mr Simon Nelson was conducting the inquest into the death of 29-year-old Ross Chant, of Greenhill Road, Bury, who was found by his mother in his loft bedroom unconscious with a syringe nearby last November.

He was certified dead at Fairfield General Hospital.

It was not the relatively small amount of heroin he had injected which caused his death but it caused him him to choke on the contents of his stomach.

Recording a verdict of death by "misadventure," Mr Nelson said Ross was a loving son in a close and stable family who had left himself open to temptation with unforeseen consequences.

Ross's family had little inclination of his abuse of drugs and to some extent there had been naivety. It was the type of scenario which was not uncommon amongst many families who never suspected that such a thing was ongoing.

"Ross was an intelligent young man who certainly intended to help others borne out by the very caring nature he had.

" I can imagine the shock to members of his family when after his death certain elements of drugs paraphernalia were discovered indicative of drugs abuse to a limited degree," said Mr Nelson.

A former pupil at Chantlers Primary and the Derby High School Ross attended London Guildhill University studying politics but then switched to Manchester Metropolitan University to take an English language degree with the intention of teaching English to foreign students.