A TEENAGER who had "everything to live for" hanged himself in a garden shed after a night out with friends, an inquest heard.

Dylan Jackson, aged 19, was found dead by his stepfather in a shed in the garden of the family home in Mount Pleasant Road, Farnworth.

At Mr Jackson's inquest yesterday, coroner Alan Walsh told Bolton Coroners' court Mr Jackson had "everything to live for" and praised his charitable achievements — such as completing a Tough Mudder endurance challenge with his stepfather Stephen Dwyer, aged 37.

He also warned about the dangers of young people mixing alcohol and cocaine, however.

Pathologist Dr David Bisset confirmed Mr Jackson had both alcohol and cocaine in his system, which would have impaired his judgement, and said the cause of death was hanging.

His friend Vanian Holden, who had been out with the former college pupil in Farnworth, said he had not seen him take any drugs, but confirmed he had been drinking.

He last saw him as they got out of a taxi 200 yards from each others' homes after 5am on Saturday morning.

He was heard returning home by his sister Bethany, who was in bed, before she heard him go back out and post the back door key through the front door letterbox.

No one heard from him until he was found the next evening.

Mr Walsh said: "He was a young man that the family should be proud of in relation to the charitable intents. [Cocaine is] one of the evils of our society, particularly when taken by young people and more particularly when taken with alcohol.

"The risks and dangers of the effects on young people and their judgement is there to be seen in relation to the death of Dylan Jackson."

In the months before his death he had been spoken to by both his mother, 38-year-old Michaela Dwyer, and her husband about the dangers of taking drugs after they noticed his mood changed following nights out at the weekend.

An open verdict was recorded.

Paying tribute to his stepson, Mr Dwyer, who had been a father to him since he was three-years-old, said after the inquest: "It's a tragedy losing such a wonderful person who me and his mum loved dearly.

"It just shows the dangers of taking drugs and alcohol.

"We stand by the fact that he had everything to live for. He is a massive loss to not only us but the community as a whole.

"I have lost my training partner, my best friend and my soul mate. I will still be competing in the future in his memory."