'Mischievous' dad found dead in flat two days after the birth of his second child

A beloved dad was found dead in his flat just two days after the birth of his second child, an inquest heard.

Tom Floyd - known to loved ones as Tommo - was discovered at his property in Darwen, Lancashire on March 5 this year. The alarm had been raised by a neighbour who had been unable to get into the flat to check on his dog. Tom, who was born inBlackburn, had welcomed his second child only two days before his death. His funeral had been "packed out", with the 31-year-old's sister Lisa describing him as "mischievous" and "full of fun".

An inquest into Tom's death held yesterday heard that he had been struggling with drug and alcohol misuse. He had been "neglecting himself", and neighbour Michael Wareing had been checking in on his dog, reports Lancs Live.

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When Michael couldn't get his key into the lock of Tom's flat, he called his friend Luke Pearson, who climbed in through an open window and found him dead inside.

Michael, who had last messaged Tom asking if he "wanted any weed", told police in a statement: "I last spoke to Tom on the evening of March 4; everything was fine. Tom was very skinny and looked like he had lost even more weight.

"He had recently lost his job around the time of his birthday. He did seem ok in himself though and there was nothing unusual.

Tom's friend Luke told police: "Tom was safe and well and there was nothing out of the ordinary. He couldn't really look after himself proper and had bad habits and a poor way of life and neglected himself.

"He didn't have any health issues but I was aware he took drugs and alcohol. He did this mainly on pay day - weed and cocaine.

"On the evening of March 5 I received a call from Tom's neighbour Michael who was meant to be looking after the dog. He said his key wouldn't go in the hole.

"At around 8pm I got back but couldn't get the key in the door. I had to climb in through the kitchen window. I had to pull it open to get in. I went into the front room and saw Tom lying on the sofa. "I went over to him and his body was cold. I tried to wake him up but he wouldn't wake."

Police arriving at the home found "a few empty snap bags and a half-smoked joint in an ashtray". There was also a bottle of whisky on the table which Tom's sister Lisa, and her husband Ryan, both said was "unusual because he hated the stuff".

During the inquest, Lisa and Ryan raised concerns that Tom's friend Luke had been with him when he died. Lisa also saw what she believed were "finger marks" on her brother's neck but police found no evidence of criminality or suspicious circumstances, and a post mortem concluded Tom had not been the victim of an assault.

Toxicology tests revealed that Tom had taken cocaine and cannabis in the hours before he died. The inquest heard that cocaine can cause heart problems and in the months prior to his death Tom had complained of chest pains and palpitations.

Returning a conclusion of a drug-related death, Assistant Coroner Laura Fox said: "Thomas Francis Floyd died on march 5, 2025, at Leven Grove, Darwen. Mr Floyd died as a results of the effects of drug toxicity."