A WORCESTER man who was £60,000 in debt died accidentally after sniffing chloroform, a coroner has ruled.

Christopher Aljaradat ordered two bottles of the toxic substance claiming he needed them for work.

He had also bought a face mask and pump machine which he used to administer the chemical at his home in Monarch Drive, Worcester.

Worcestershire coroner Geraint Williams said: “He was prone to sniffing gas and other substances, presumably for the pleasure that gave. I do not think he intended to kill or harm himself but tragically that is always the risk.”

Mr Aljaradat bought the chemical on Wednesday, August 27, and spent the rest of the day at home looking at papers and sitting in front of his computer.

The married father later went to bed in the spare bedroom and when he did not get up the following day, his wife thought he was sleeping.

When she returned home at 3.30pm she heard a noise and found him with a mask over his nose and mouth.

Police and paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and took Mr Aljaradat to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

He died nine days later from brain and liver damage due to chloroform poisoning.

At Tuesday’s inquest in Stourport-on-Severn his wife said although he was worried about the large overdraft, he did not seem depressed.

Mr Williams questioned whether the incident was suicide and Mr Aljaradat’s wife said: “He had never spoken about taking his own life, he has got three children and he really loves those more than anything.

“I looked everywhere and there was no note.”

Suicide was ruled out by the coroner.

Mr Aljaradat’s sister said the self-employed electrical engineer had sniffed glue as a teenager, but believed it was experimental and not a habit.

She said he had been sniffing gas for about four years and a neighbour had witnessed him doing this on several occasions.

Police later found a book entitled Chloroform, The Quest For Oblivion in a bedside table.

Mr Williams gave a verdict of accidental death.