NO MEDICAL explanation could be found for the death of an Abergavenny man who was trying to give up heroin, an inquest heard yesterday.

A verdict of misadventure was recorded at the inquest into the death of Oliver James Hillman, 30.

Gwent coroner David Bowen said that a post- mortem examination could find no medical explanation for his death. But he added that the combination of drugs and drink Mr Hillman had consumed beforehand may have caused a reaction which led to his death.

The Newport inquest heard that Mr Hillman was found dead at his flat in Cross Street, Abergavenny, on August 9 this year.

His mother, Susan Hillman, who runs the His and Hers hairdressing salon in Abergavenny with her husband, Terry, told the court that he was attending drug- counselling sessions to overcome his addiction to heroin.

Although the sessions ultimately failed, Mrs Hillman said the family did their utmost to keep Mr Hillman, known as 'Ollie' to his friends, off drugs.

Former nursing home and sawmill worker Mr Hillman was a former pupil at Our Lady and St Michael Roman Catholic Primary School, where he served as an altar boy, and of King Henry School.

The inquest heard that Mr Hillman's mother went to speak to him in his flat above their shop, and found him slumped in a chair.

Mrs Hillman said: "I tried to pick him up. I could feel that he was cold and I could tell then that he was dead."

PC Mark Virgo said Mr Hillman had a syringe in his hand when he was found, and another syringe was lying nearby, along with some foil which contained a brown substance, thought to be heroin.

A post-mortem examination carried out by consultant pathologist Dr Steven Howell, of Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, could find no medical explanation as to why Mr Hillman died.

However, samples of his blood were found to contain alcohol and his urine showed a recent abuse of heroin.

Mr Bowen said that Mr Hillman had injected himself with buprenophine, a prescribed heroin substitute which should have been taken orally.

Mr Bowen said there had been numerous recorded cases of the drug reacting badly when taken intravenously and with alcohol, and said this probably caused Mr Hillman's death.

Speaking after the inquest, Mrs Hillman said of her son: "All he ever wanted was to settle down and have a family with a nice girl."