Cambridge student ‘took LSD and slid down banister to his death', pre-inquest hearing told

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A Cambridge student may have taken LSD and then slid down a banister to his death, a pre-inquest hearing has been told.

Thomas Millward was found at the bottom of the stairs at Girton College in March last year.

The 19-year-old died the following day despite medics' attempts to save his life in hospital.

Medical evidence about the finding of LSD would be heard at a later inquest, Cambridgeshire assistant coroner Simon Milburn, said.

There was also apparently evidence of two people running down a corridor before the incident and a footprint on a vending machine, the Telegraph reported.

A cousin of Mr Millward's parents, who was referred to as Dr O'Driscoll, said the family just want to know the full story.

"We would just like to know the truth as far as possible," he told the hearing.

"Was he sliding down the banisters, was he balancing and fell, or was he on the [vending] machine?"

Mr Millward's father Brian raised concerns about the post-mortern not being carried out and the height of the safety railings.

"On the upper floor the guard rail was considerably lower than the building regulations that would be recommended for such a guard," he said.

"The issue of a post-mortem was considered by the senior coroner, as I understand it, and the decision that he made was that because the attending doctors were able to say with a significant degree of certainty what the medical cause of death was, nothing could be added by a post-mortem examination."

The death was not thought to be suspicious but a 19-year-old woman from Cambridge was arrested on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Mr Millward was studying engineering at the university and his family said that his organs had been donated so that he could help others.