A 22-YEAR-OLD York man admitted having taken ecstasy shortly before he died, an inquest was told.

John Causer was agitated and shaking when he made the admission that he had taken the drug MDMA, said York Coroner Donald Coverdale.

He said Mr Causer had a history of drug and alcohol abuse and was receiving treatment from Bootham Park Hospital.

Mr Coverdale, opening the inquest into Mr Causer’s death which happened last Friday afternoon, said Mr Causer had spent the Thursday evening drinking in York.

He left some premises at 2.45am on the Friday, appearing to be intoxicated and having been seen taking cocaine or some other substance.

At 8am, he went into York and then in the early afternoon visited a property in Burdyke Avenue, Clifton, where he fell ill. Paramedics were called and he was taken to York Hospital, where it was confirmed he had died.

The coroner said analysis needed to be conducted before a post-mortem report was issued, and adjourned the hearing to a later date.

The Press reported earlier this week how North Yorkshire Police were investigating the death of Mr Causer, of Middleton Road, Acomb, amid suspicions it was drug related.

Friends and family members have continued posting moving tributes to Mr Causer on social networking website Facebook under the titles RIP John Causer and RIP John Causer Gone But Not Forgotten.

One said: “One great lad lost in a bad way and will never be forgotten. You will always live on in hearts mate,”

Another said: “You lightened up every day.” Other tributes included: “I have many happy memories of John as a youngster. Very sad news and my thoughts go out to all John’s family and friends at this terrible time,” and: “True mates don’t come along often and I’m glad I can say I had you as one of mine!”