A 42-YEAR-OLD man whose body was found in a van in Cowley more than a week after he parked died of a heroin overdose.

Rene Friis, a builder from Northampton, was found on September 4 in his van, which was parked outside Burger King at Oxford Retail Park, in Ambassador Avenue.

An inquest at Oxford Coroner’s Court yesterday, heard CCTV near the restaurant showed Mr Friis parked at Oxford Retail Park some time between 5.50pm on August 25 and 5.53am on August 26.

Grounds maintenance worker Robert Grumbridge said in a statement read in court he was working near the scene when he noticed a smell from the vehicle and called the police.

Pc Anthony Carter said officers at the scene found a syringe in the van, as well as an envelope containing more syringes, alongside Mr Friis’ body.

Consultant pathologist Dr Elizabeth Soilleux said Mr Friis had a history of drug use and a post mortem examination report showed he had recently taken heroin.

Coroner Darren Salter recorded a verdict of death by heroin overdose and said: “The police are of the view there were not any suspicious circumstances.”

 

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