Man killed by smoking too much cannabis

A musician was killed by smoking too much cannabis, an inquest has ruled.

Bassist Steve Dullaghan, 45, who co-wrote the 1988 top five hit Crash with his band The Primitives, was found at his Coventry home on February 4.


Photo from here.

A toxicology report revealed he had high levels of cannabis in his blood but no other drug or alcohol. Pathologist Dr Steve Ferryman, of University Hospital, Coventry, said in a report: "He possibly experienced one of the toxic effects of cannabis - a fast heart rate and hyperventilating - and this can lead to heart failure."

Dullaghan was found by his friend Kieron Hayes. Mr Hayes said: "A few friends have a poker night on a Tuesday night and he didn't show.

You may have heard Crash by The Primitives previously, in Dumb & Dumber.


"I went round on the Wednesday, broke in and found him in the bedroom. He was a lovely guy, generous to a fault. He'd bend over backwards to help anyone."

Coventry coroner Sean McGovern recorded a verdict of death due to misuse of drugs.