A grieving builder described as “one-of-a kind” tragically died just five months after his fiancée lost her battle with cancer, an inquest has been told.

“Funny and loving” Joshua Whitehead, 33, was found dead at his friend’s home in Herne Bay after suffering a fatal reaction to taking cocaine.

The hearing was told he was burdened with grief following the loss of his partner, but a coroner ruled his death was accidental and not a suicide.

Mr Whitehead, who was from Faversham, had been mourning his partner, Victoria Lawson, who died last July, aged 44.

Just two weeks before his death on December 28 he shared a heartfelt tribute to her on Facebook, quoting lyrics from the James Blunt ballad Goodbye My Lover, and posting a smiling selfie of the pair.

But despite his turmoil, the inquest was told Mr Whitehead - whose occupation was given as a dry liner - had been making positive steps in his life and had secured a new job.

His mother, Susan Monks, recalled speaking to him on Christmas Eve - four days before he died.

"He had been invited to work in a delivery business,” she told the hearing at County Hall.

“We spoke about the new job. He was working hard and I was proud of him."

Mrs Monks also spoke of Mr Whitehead’s generous nature, telling how her son would go out of his way to help those in need.

"He helped charities, giving money, such as the homeless in Canterbury,” she said.

“He was always looking out for others."

Mr Whitehead had taken on the role of dad to his partner’s children, including Abbie-jane Barnes, who described him as “funny, loving and a bubbly, fun spirit”.

“You showed me how much a father should love a daughter and I will forever be grateful,” she added in a Facebook post after his death.

The inquest was told Mr Whitehead, who was also a step-grandad, had been staying with a friend, Samuel Dale, at his home in Herne Bay over the Christmas period.

Mr Dale called 999 after finding Mr Whitehead on the floor unconscious and unresponsive on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 28.

Paramedics rushed to the home and performed CPR, but tragically could not revive Mr Whitehead, who was addicted to alcohol and opiates.

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Whitehead had died of cocaine toxicity after taking one gram of the Class A drug, with an abnormal build-up of fluid discovered in his lungs.

No alcohol was discovered in his system. Traces of methadone were found but tests showed the heroin substitute had been taken a significant time before his death.

Sarah Clarke, the area coroner for North East Kent, determined Mr Whitehead had not intended to die.

“I conclude that this was a drug-related death,” she said at the inquest at County Hall.

“There is no evidence that he deliberately took drugs to take his own life.”