A DJ who died at a farm between Canterbury and Herne Bay was a known drug user, an inquest has heard.

Aaron Ritchie had cocaine in his system when he started to have a fit at Prospect Farm near Greenhill four years ago.

The 24-year-old later went into cardiac respiratory arrest and was pronounced dead at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Aaron's parents have told the hearing at Canterbury Crown Court that their son was against drugs and believe that any cocaine in his system was put there by somewhere else.

But his friend Shaun Edgar told the third day of the hearing that Aaron, who had been living at the farm, was a cocaine user.

"Aaron did do drugs," Mr Edgar, 32, said.

"There was a bit of it flying around back then. It was not anything heavy, but there was cocaine about.

"People might have a few drinks and a few lines of cocaine. I saw Aaron do it on quite a few occasions."

"People might have a few drinks and a few lines of cocaine. I saw Aaron do it on quite a few occasions..." - friend Shaun Edgar

Mr Edgar also lived at Prospect Farm and was called to the caravan of Leanne Lockhart, the daughter of Prospect Farm owner Artie, after being told that Aaron was inside having a fit.

He said: "Aaron was having spasms so me and my friend put him on the sofa and tried to calm him down and then we decided to take him outside to get some fresh air."

Mr Edgar and his friend laid Aaron on a bench in the recovery position. A mobile phone was placed in his mouth to stop him biting his tongue.

He added: "Then the ambulance crew turned up and did what they needed to do. We stood back."

Paramedic Ian Holness was in the ambulance which arrived at Prospect Farm at just after midnight on December 1, 2012.

He described the atmosphere there as hostile.

"There were a crowd of people milling about and I after I got out of the vehicle and went over, I could see Mr Ritchie lying on a bench," Mr Holness told coroner Christopher Morris.

"Somebody mentioned that there had been drugs and alcohol. After our arrival, Mr Ritchie went into cardiac respiratory arrest.

"It was a bitterly cold night so we put him in the ambulance."

Aaron was taken to the Kent and Canterbury Hospital where registrar Answar Abdulrehman formally pronounced him dead at 2am.

Dr Abdulrehman said: "Somebody told us that there had been a history of drug-taking with this patient."

A clinical cause of death has been given as a cocaine overdose.

But Aaron's parents John and Linda, of Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay, have told the hearing that they believe their son was intentionally killed.

Mrs Ritchie said: “I have heard that the post-mortem suggests that this was a cocaine overdose. It’s not a simple cocaine overdose. I think he was murdered.

“He was covered in water and I believe he was waterboarded.

“I’m aware that the police were at Prospect Farm on the night of Aaron’s death. I don’t think they did enough to preserve the scene for long enough and all the evidence has been lost.”

The hearing continues.