A DRUG addict who survived a bout of poisoning from the deadly botulism bug died from a heroin overdose - a week after being discharged from York Hospital.

Ian Hocker's tolerance levels after a three-month stint in hospital last summer may have "fallen drastically", an inquest heard.

Coroner Donald Coverdale, who returned a verdict of death due to dependency on drugs, said that when the 42-year-old took injected a potentially fatal amount of heroin into his leg - twinned with a cocktail of booze and painkillers - he may not have realised he was putting his life in grave danger.

Jobless Mr Hocker, of Sixth Avenue, York, was discharged from hospital on August 4, last year.

He had been in intensive care - and it has now emerged that he was one of two men who developed the deadly botulism bug last May.

As reported in the Evening Press, the men - both drug users - were believed to have developed wound botulism from a contaminated batch of heroin. If untreated, the bug can spread through the arms, legs and respiratory muscles.

Its death rate is 50 to 70 per cent, but those who survive the respiratory paralysis can recover completely.

Health chiefs, who had earlier put out an urgent warning to the city's drug community, confirmed that both men recovered.

But the inquest was told that a friend went to Mr Hocker's house, on August 11, and saw him twice inject heroin into his leg while watching TV. An empty bottle of Bailey's was already in the house.

When the friend saw he was not moving and had slumped forward, he tried to resuscitate him before calling an ambulance.

Mr Coverdale said Mr Hocker had a history of drug and drink abuse and mobility problems. He had a borderline personality disorder, had a heroin dependency for some years and had repeatedly overdosed.

The inquest heard Mr Hocker dated his problems from his time in the Army.

The inquest heard a heroin overdose was the main cause of death, but this was accelerated by drink and painkillers.

Updated: 10:18 Friday, February 25, 2005