Further investigations to take place into death of “talented” young medical student

A talented medical student found on a patch of land near Old Buckenham in March died when hypothermia set in after taking a lethal mixture of drugs, an inquest has heard.

Nadeera De Silva, 34, born in Cardiff but latterly of Stacksford, was a clinical researcher at the MRC Cancer Unit linked to the University of Cambridge.

Norfolk Coroner's Court heard how Dr De Silva was found on March 10 near the Restawhile off Doe Lane.

'The medical cause of death is mixed drug toxicity including methamphetamine, in association with hypothermia,' said area coroner Yvonne Blake. 'We need to carry out further investigations.'

Tributes were paid to the researcher, who had been specialising in cancer of the oesophagus, at the time of his death

Rebecca Fitzgerald, professor of cancer prevention at the University of Cambridge, was tutoring Dr De Silva through his PhD.

'He really was a tremendous person,' she said. 'He was very charming. He never had a bad word to say about anyone and no one had a bad word to say about him.

'He had a lovely hearty laugh. I always used to know when he was in the office because his laugh would resonate through the lab.

'It is a mystery why it happened and everyone is very shocked by it.'

The full inquest will be held on February 3 at Norfolk Coroner's Court, expected to last two hours.