35-year-old died after Fentanyl overdose

Thursday 20 August 2020

A warning has been sounded about Fentanyl misuse in Guernsey after a 35-year-old man who was "planning for the future" died following an overdose.

An inquest has heard how Thomas John Hanley died at his home sometime between 01:05 and 14:30 on Saturday 27 June.

Mr Hanley had been out on the Friday evening before returning home. At around 00:45, he returned some missed calls and spoke on the phone for around 20 minutes. That conversation was the last time he was known to be alive.

Concerns were raised about Mr Hanley's whereabouts on Saturday afternoon, so the police went to his home, where Mr Hanley was found dead.

Pictured: Police have been investigating where Mr Hanley sourced the Fentanyl from, but so far to no avail.

A Scenes of Crime Officer examined the scene, finding a partial piece of a Fentanyl patch and a pair of scissors.

The Court was told that Mr Hanley "had a history of opiate addiction and dependency" and that he "suffered with anxiety and has previously displayed low mood and bouts of depression."

There was no suggestion that he took his own life, as there were indications of him making plans for the future at the time of his death. 

Dr Catherine Chinyama carried out a post-mortem examination and the cause of death was found to be respiratory failure due to Fentanyl toxicity. 

“Toxicology identified high levels of Fentanyl at 31mg/L which was 15.5 times the normal therapeutic levels of 2mg/L. These high levels caused fatal toxicity," she said. 

Pictured: Despite knowing the toxicity levels, police were unable to ascertain exactly how much Fentanyl was taken.

Dr Chinyama continued: "Fentanyl is an opiate in the same family as heroin/morphine but much more potent. Fentanyl is normally used for treatment of severe pain."

"Excess administration of Fentanyl depresses the respiratory centre in the brain causing respiratory failure. Opiate toxicity is usually associated with excess fluid in the lungs/pulmonary oedema."

Despite police carrying out "extensive enquiries", no arrests have been made and the source of the Fentanyl has not been identified. 

Judge Graeme McKerrell expressed the Court's deepest condolences to Mr Hanley's loved ones.