Dad, 27, arrested at Manchester Airport died from cocaine toxicity

A father-of-two who died after he was arrested atManchester Airport was found “slumped in a chair”, an inquest hearing has been told.

Karl Joyce, 27, died of “cocaine toxicity” after he was arrested on February 19 this year. The details were confirmed as a police watchdog probe into his death continues. An inquest into his death was formally opened at Manchester Coroner's Court.

Mr Joyce was arrested by Border Force officers and is reported to have died after he swallowed what was believed to be cocaine found in his underwear. Following the arrest, Area Coroner Paul Appleton Mr joyce was “found slumped in a chair and slid onto the floor at Manchester Airport”.

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He was then taken to Wythenshawe Hospital and declared dead at 1:53pm. Mr Appleton said Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have “confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances associated with Karl's death' and that there was 'no evidence of third party involvement”.

The hearing was told he died of “cocaine toxicity”, following a post-mortem carried out by Dr Philip Lump, the Manchester Evening News reported.

At the time of his death, the dad born in Blackpool was single and unemployed living in Fleetwood, Lancashire. No family members were present at the hearing and no further details were heard.

Mr Appleton said GMP and Border Force had been asked to provide a file of evidence. A report from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was also required as well as CCTV footage from within the airport, he added.

Samaira Alam, representing Border Force, said the IOPC's investigation was "underway" and "ongoing". As a result of the probe, no statements had yet been taken from their officers, she said. The CCTV was held by the airport themselves, she added.

Ryan Cudlipp, representing the IOPC, said he was not yet been able to give a "target end date" for the enquiry but would be able to provide one "in the near future".

Mr Joyce is understood to have been stopped while going through security at Terminal 2 ahead of a flight to Qatar, previous reports have said. The IOPC confirmed he was detained after "displaying unusual behaviour".

Sources said Mr Joyce was searched and arrested after drugs were found in his underwear. He was then taken to a holding area where he became unwell.

The IOPC issued previously issued a statement which read: "The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances of a 27-year-old man's death following his arrest by Border Force officers at Manchester Airport on Wednesday 19 February.

"Our investigation follows a referral from the Home Office which detailed how the man was due to travel from the airport on Wednesday and was stopped after displaying unusual behaviour. He was subsequently arrested by officers and taken to a holding area where he became unwell and paramedics were called.

"Sadly, he was pronounced dead at 1.53pm. After being notified of the man’s death, we declared an independent investigation into the circumstances at 4.29pm on Wednesday. IOPC investigators were sent to the scene to begin gathering evidence."

A statement from Mr Joyce's family, provided to the M.E.N. previously, said: "The loss of Karl, a beloved son, brother and father, has left a massive hole in our family. We are lost for words and left devastated. Karl was always full of life and had so much love for his family.

"We love and miss him dearly. Karl leaves behind two daughters, who he adored and did everything he could to provide for, and also loving friends and family. "As a family we ask for privacy at this time and also space for us to grieve our loss."