A popular street drinker died after overdosing on drugs at his flat in Exeter.

Edward Seale, 30, had suffered from alcohol and drug problems for years when he overdosed after spending the day with a friend on the streets of Exeter.

Speaking after his inquest at County Hall on Tuesday, Edward's family said he was 'well liked by all who knew him'.

"Edward was very loved as a child," said his brother Fred.

"He was a popular chap and very well liked, I think that has come across in what we have heard today."

Edward was found dead at his flat on Alphington Street on September 26 last year.

St Sidwell Church, Exeter
St Sidwell Church, Exeter

Mr Seale's friend Stephen Cook, who stayed at his house on the night he died, said he called Edward 'Slim' because he styled himself on rap legend 'Slim Shady' Eminem.

A statement from Mr Cook, read out at the inquest, said: "Slim was one of my good friends.

"We would both hang around in the St Thomas area of Exeter to drink alcohol and smoke cannabis.

"My normal day would be to get up and then graze on beer throughout the morning.

"I would then meet with Slim and throughout the afternoon we would drink beer take pills of pregabalin.

"We would spend all day and evening grazing on alcohol and drugs and socialising with the homeless community.

"On the night Slim died, we were in St Sidwell's Church graveyard where we were drinking beer and taking pills.

Stephen 'Cookie' Cook
Stephen 'Cookie' Cook

"The pills made us feel wobbly, light-headed and giddy, that's why we took them.

"We had carried on drinking beers throughout the day and I'd had about 15 cans.

"We both lived in supported accommodation and I'd lost my key so I stayed the night at Slim's.

"We didn't drink any more when we got back to his house and we fell asleep in the hallway.

"I woke up at 2am and kicked his leg so he started laughing. I then went to sleep on the sofa and woke again at 8.36am.

"I went into the hallway and saw Slim was still on the floor.

County Hall, Exeter

"He still didn't move when I kicked him and then I saw his lips were blue and he was cold.

"I panicked, called an ambulance and started CPR.

"The ambulance arrived a short time later and told me he was dead.

"I was devastated."

Mr Seale's support worker Denise Underwood said that Edward, who suffered from learning difficulties, was a 'chaotic character' who wanted to please people.

"He openly admitted that he didn't want to change or go into detox because he loved his life," said a statement read at the inquest.

"He would do anything for anyone and was a people pleaser.

Alphington Street, Exeter

"I think some people would take advantage of this."

A report from Mr Seale's GP Dr Andy Senior said that Edward had been known to drink 120 units of alcohol per week and had a 11 year history of drug misuse.

He would overdose on a regular basis and had a history of self harm, the inquest heard.

A toxicology report following Mr Seale's death found that he had levels of pregabalin and gabapentin in his system above what you would expect to find in a living person.

He also had traces of morphine in his blood with the cause of death stated as drug toxicity.

Police ruled out any suspicious circumstances.

Luisa Nicholson, assistant coroner for Exeter and Greater Devon, said she was satisfied with the cause of death and recorded a verdict of drug related death.