A MAN died after taking a cocktail of drugs only 15 days after his dad suffered the same fate.

Michael Egan, 36, from Bolton, went round to his dad Stephen's home on The Crofts, Haydock Street, and found him behind the door unresponsive on November 12 last year.

Bolton Coroner's Court heard today, Wednesday, that Stephen, 53, died from drug toxicity with pneumonia being a contributory factor.

Statements were read out by senior acting coroner Alan Walsh and it was found that opioids, cannabis and methadone were some of the substances found in his system.

The court heard that he had battled with drug addiction for years, as had Michael, and they had both sought help through support services.

Mr Walsh said that Stephen used drugs from the age of 21 but there were times when he stopped taking drugs and lived a "relatively normal life".

Dad-of-four Stephen worked at Bolton Market, which Michael went on to follow in his footsteps, and his children "are extremely grateful for his guidance" during their upbringing.

A statement from his daughter Marie said he was "a really good dad" and he treated them and his grandchildren during his life.

Michael who battled with drug addiction for years died on November 27, 2019 and was found by his partner Joanne, who he was living with in a flat below where his dad lived.

The pair had met together through Stephen.

The court heard that Michael had four children, but tragically two of them, a son and daughter had passed away.

He was proud of his daughter Jessica, and her academic achievements, as well as his son Thomas, who enjoyed days out including going to Blackpool.

But his drug problem started when his son died in 2002 and he moved from drugs such as diazepam and cannabis on to harder drugs such as heroin.

On November 27 last year, Joanne found Michael in a chair where he died and it was discovered that he had died from heroin toxicity with other substances found in his system.

Mr Walsh, who said that Michael was a loving dad, said he had a "breakdown" in the weeks that followed his father's death.

"He probably used more drugs in the period following his father's death", Mr Walsh said.

But it was noted that Michael, who suffered with anxiety and did not like to go to the pharmacy to get medicine for this reason, did make an appointment to get treatment for drugs on November 22.

Mr Walsh said: "I am sorry for his children.

"His daughter is clearly going to fluorish with her education and he won't get to spend time with his son."

The coroner added that he had never dealt with the case of the deaths of a father and son on the same afternoon during his career and warned about the "evils" of drugs.