Heavy drinking led to fatal fall down stairs

10:15am Thursday 17th November 2005

A POLISH man fell down stairs and died after drinking heavily.

Twenty-eight-year-old Grzegorz Zyla, of Hartslock Drive, Thamesmead, had drank more than four times the equivalent of the legal driving limit.

Investigating officer Detective Sergeant Keith Pritchard told Croydon Coroner's Court the sheet metal worker had been in a pub or club on August 7. He then shared a bottle of vodka with two people in a flat in Wolvercote Road, Thamesmead.

Mr Zyla was found lying dead at the foot of steps near his friend's flat. The officer said he appeared to have fallen from the top of the steps but it was a mystery why he had gone to the top in the first place.

Coroner Dr Roy Palmer recorded a verdict of accidental death.