A ‘DEVOTED family man’ died from an accidental combination of alcohol and prescription drugs, an inquest has heard.

Kevin Rowley, 60, was found by his brother-in-law, James Cropper at his home on Dean Lane, Water, on February 21.

An inquest at Burnley Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard Mr Rowley, who had worked as a bricklayer and builder, was described as a hard-working and well-known man in the Rossendale Valley.

He had four sons and three daughters and also had 15 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

His interests included fly-fishing, cooking and working on his allotment.

Mr Cropper told the hearing that he had known Mr Rowley for 20 years and had worked with him as a builder.

He became alarmed when he could not contact him and when let in the house later by his landlord, he found Mr Rowley unconscious.

The hearing heard that while Mr Rowley took his medication regularly as a matter of course this could become slightly erratic if he had been consuming alcohol.

Consultant pathologist Abdul Al-Daoud told the Burnley inquest hearing that toxicology tests which were taken during a post-mortem examination had revealed slightly higher than therapeutic levels of two anti-depressant drugs.

Alcohol levels in his urine were high at 240 mg.

Mr Al-Daoud said that although none of these factors would be lethal in isolation a combination was likely to have caused effects on his heart and respiratory system.

Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Rowley’s son Lee, said: “My father was a popular and much-loved by all his family and his many friends.

“His death was an extremely tragic accident.”