The death of a ‘homeless’ man found unresponsive in Oxford City Centre has been ruled as ‘sudden and unexpected’ by a coroner.

Andrew Burton-Page, 51, was found unresponsive and ‘slumped over’ on a bench in Cornmarket Street in the early hours of June 18.

Police cordoned off the street from about 5.10am and businesses in the area were forced to remain closed for part of the day.

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An inquest was held into his death at Oxford Coroner’s Court on Wednesday (October 2) where coroner Darren Salter ruled his death as ‘sudden and unexpected with alcohol misuse’.

During the inquest, it was heard that Mr Burton-Page had been living a ‘homeless lifestyle’ despite having a room at a multiple-occupancy home in Thames View Road.

He had not returned to his room for about a month and had been sleeping rough on the streets of Oxford and London.

At 5am on June 18, a shift manager at McDonald’s in Cornmarket Street left the fast-food restaurant to find Mr Burton-Page ‘slumped over’ on a bench.

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“My thought process was I thought he was drunk to something isn’t right,” said the staff member. “I started tapping him and saying, ‘Andrew mate, can you hear me?’”

He told the inquest he knew Mr Burton-Page as a frequent customer and had conversed with him the day before.

“He came to the door and was talking gibberish,” he said, “He was not making much sense.”

The employee called the emergency services and life-saving attempts were made including CPR. However, Mr Burton-Page remained unresponsive and was transferred to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

A toxicology report found that he had alcohol in his system, 2.5 times over the drink-driving limit, but it was ruled ‘insufficient to cause a coma’.

No drugs were found in his system but he did have severe fatty liver which is consistent with alcohol misuse.

His medical cause of death, after it was established he had suffered from a ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest was ruled as ‘sudden and unexpected with alcohol misuse’.

Mr Burton-Page’s father, who was present at the inquest, said his son’s friend described him as ‘cheerful’ which gives ‘some comfort’.

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He said the family frequently reassured Mr Burton-Page that he was welcome back home.

Speaking at the inquest, he said: “I would just like to record my profound thanks to you [Mr Salter], the medical team at John Radcliffe Hospital and Thames Valley Police who were in attendance.

“I’m very grateful for all who were involved.”