Mum Only Learns Of Son's Death After People Text To Ask About His Funeral

A mum only found out her son had died when someone texted her to offer their condolences two days after it had happened.

On the morning of 1 November, 2021, Robert Lee Wareing was discovered to have passed away in his sleep by two of his friends at a flat in West Cliff in Preston, Lancashire.

An inquest held on Tuesday, 26 April, revealed not only Wareing's cause of death, but that his mother wasn't immediately informed of her son's passing.

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Ernie Cottam and Rollo Seagal, the two friends who had been with Wareing that night, explained Wareing had fallen asleep at around 5.00am.

Upon hearing him stop snoring at around 9.30am, the friends checked on Wareing but discovered his breathing was laboured.

Wareing appeared blue and then they saw he wasn't breathing.

It was found that Wareing was 'profoundly intoxicated' with alcohol and had also taken cocaine and heroine before he fell asleep, LancsLive reports.

It was revealed that Wareing had fatal levels of heroin, cocaine and pregabalin – a medicine used to treat epilepsy and anxiety – in his blood, according to toxicology tests taken post mortem.

The sedative effects of the drugs were enhanced by Wareing taking both heroin and cocaine, a toxicologist explained in their report.

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Coroner Chris Long concluded: "Robert Lee Wareing was found deceased on November 1, 2021, at Flat 5, 27 West Cliff, Preston. Mr Wareing was discovered unresponsive. Toxicological testing revealed ethanol consistent with profound intoxication together with a number of illicit drugs which, in combination, resulted in Mr Wareing's death."

During the inquest, Wareing's mother received an apology from police.

An officer from Greater Manchester Police was requested to visit the mum after Wareing was discovered to have passed away, however two days later his mother had still not been informed.

Detective Inspector Chris Wellard said: "I can only apologise wholeheartedly for the way you found out about the death, it was my intention for you to be visited by an officer, but unfortunately Greater Manchester Police didn't visit.

"It's not appropriate to ring someone up and tell someone of their son's death, which is why we asked GMP to find an address and inform you in person. I can only apologise; I was shocked when I heard."

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Wareing's mother accepted the apology, however she noted her shock at only finding out about her son's passing via a text while at work. The text read: "So sorry to hear about Robert."

She said: "I came out of work to a missed call and text, 'So sorry can you let me know when the funeral is' so for two days I had gone to work, lived my life, and my son was dead."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677