AN OPEN verdict was recorded on a 21-year-old man who drowned in a bath on Christmas Eve after an overdose of tablets.

Liam Perkins had lived in sheltered accommodation at Minster Road, Halfway, since September after being released from Medway Maritime Hospital.

He suffered from schizophrenia and was taking tablets for it, the Gillingham inquest heard last Thursday.

Pathologist Dr David Rouse told his mother Marie Perkins, from Queenborough, that her son would have died from the drugs overdose before he had drowned.

He added that the overdose would have led to confusion and drowsiness.

Support worker at the home Lynn Barton said: "In September he abused his medication and was found semi-conscious in his bedroom. He was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital but was later discharged.

"He was responsible for taking his own medication and he asked for a month's repeat prescription on Christmas Eve in the morning. I was cross he had run out.

"He had no smile and was non-communicative. He had been invited to his mother's house for Christmas Day so at 3pm I suggested he cleaned himself up by having a bath. It would also help to relax him.

"I then went off duty because the four residents there do stay on their own.

"Three hours later I received a pager message from resident Paul Taylor who was concerned because Liam had been in the bath for so long.

"I dashed round and he was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital by ambulance but he died there."

His mother added: "It had been his 21st birthday four days before and we had a nice celebration for him. He was quite happy."

Det Sgt Mandy Winch said: "Sixty tablets in his room had all gone from their box but there was no suicide note."

Coroner Roger Sykes said: "I cannot be certain beyond reasonable doubt that it was suicide so I record an open verdict."