Chemistry student killed himself with caffeine inquest is told

A chemistry student killed himself by overdosing on caffeine, an inquest was told yesterday.

James Bird, 20, bought four boxes of Pro Plus, with 96 tablets in each, shortly after he was last seen alive at Cardiff University's Talybont halls of residence on 24 January.

Sergeant Warren Poole told the inquest at Cardiff coroner's court that a receipt for the pills, which combat tiredness and are available over the counter, was found in his room.

Mr Bird's friends thought he had gone home to visit his family in Hereford for the weekend but raised the alarm after becoming concerned when he did not arrive back and they could hear his mobile phone ringing in the room.

David Semp contacted security staff on 31 Januaryand Mr Bird was found on the bed in a decomposed state. Sergeant Poole told the inquest that several handwritten notes were found in the room.

One of the notes showed calculations working out how much caffeine would be needed to kill someone. Another note stated: "It is not having too much effect." One said: "I want to die."

But Sergeant Poole said no reasons were found for Mr Bird to take his life. He had been doing well in his course and was scoring especially highly in the forensic chemistry module.

The pathologist Dr Alan Gibbs told the inquest that the cause of death was an overdose of caffeine.

The Cardiff and Vale coroner, Dr Lawrence Addicott, recorded a verdict of suicide.