A 22-YEAR-OLD collapsed in Chippenham's Market Place after a drinking binge, and died on his way to hospital, an inquest heard last Wednesday.

The death of Damien Richens, of Roman Way, Market Lavington, on September 9 2001 was the second tragedy to hit his family. The inquest was told his sister had also died in the same year.

"Mr Richens was a man with personal difficulties, suffering depression, anxiety, alcoholism and self abuse," said assistant deputy coroner Nigel Brookes.

A post mortem revealed Mr Richens' blood alcohol level at the time of his death was 433mg the drink driving level is 80mg in 100 ml of blood.

Mr Brookes said the level was probably the highest he had ever encountered.

Pathologist Dr Penelope Tidbury said it was the quantity of alcohol which had been a main factor in the man's death.

Mr Richens' father, Peter, said his son was waiting for a place at a rehabilitation centre, and had to phone twice a week to find out when it would become available.

"He seemed to stop drinking when he knew he had a chance to go there. Then because he never went, he started drinking again," he said.

Mr Richens said Damien was living with him. The last time he saw his son was on Sunday September 23, three days before his death.

Mr Richens said Damien was arrested in Chippenham and taken to the police station on Monday night, and had been due to attend court on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, he had been told he could pick his son up, but later that day learned Damien had collapsed and died.

The inquest heard that staff at the Four Seasons pub in the Market Place, Chippenham, reported seeing Mr Richens. He had come into the pub on the day before his death. He was asked to leave because he was drinking from a bottle of cider.

The following day Mr Richens returned to the pub, but staff refused to serve him because he appeared to be drunk.

He asked for a light for a cigarette, then left the pub and sat on the bench beneath the Buttercross, where he slumped and fell to the ground.

Concerned customer Nicky Morris phoned the emergency services when he did not stand up again, and she stood beside him until the ambulance arrived.

Paramedic Simon Andrews said they arrived at the scene at 7.36pm.

He found Mr Richens lying on the ground with a considerable amount of vomit around his head.

He was not moving and appeared to be unconscious.

Mr Andrews said Mr Richens' breathing was shallow and he could not feel a pulse. He was given oxygen but a defibrillator monitor revealed no pulse.

The paramedics tried to revive Mr Richens and his heartbeat resumed for a while, but Mr Richens died in the ambulance on his way to hospital.

In a statement, social worker Stephen Cox of the community mental health team, said funding was raised and a place was found for Mr Richens at the Frenchay Mews rehabilitation centre, but he changed his mind about going.

He said Mr Richens had previously been admitted to Green Lane Hospital, Devizes, and had been hospitalised in 1999 following an overdose. He was diagnosed as suffering from an anxiety disorder, but often failed to attend appointments.

He said he suffered from depression and anxiety, and his life became increasingly chaotic, causing him to offend and enter hospital on numerous occasions.

The coroner said there was no evidence to suggest Mr Richens wanted to take his own life.

He recorded a verdict of death through misadventure.