A 36-year-old chef who worked in a seaside town died at his home during a bout of ill health, an inquest heard. 

The day before his death, James Henry Podd, who worked in Great Yarmouth, had been suffering with a chest infection and was struggling to speak properly.

Earlier this year, on Wednesday, January 25, Mr Podd was found deceased on his sofa at home after a friend had visited him to check how he was.

An inquest into his death was opened by assistant coroner Johanna Thompson on Thursday, March 23 at the Norfolk Coroner’s Court at County Hall, Norwich. 

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Speaking at the opening, Ms Thompson confirmed that Mr Podd, of Holly Close in Martham, near Great Yarmouth, was born on January 6, 1987, in Ipswich, Suffolk.     

She added “white powder and cocaine” had been found at his home. 

A postmortem revealed the medical cause of death as cardiac failure following cocaine and sertraline effects and ischemic heart disease.

The inquest has been adjourned to take place at Norfolk Coroner’s Court on August 23, 2023.