Thomas Millward was found unconscious and naked at Girton College on March 5 last year
A Cambridge University student who took an LSD-based legal high then fell to his death from a college stairwell died accidentally, an inquest concluded.
Rugby player Thomas Millward, 19, was found unconscious and naked at the foot of a stairwell after taking the drug with his girlfriend in his room at Girton College on March 5 last year, the hearing in Huntingdon was told.
The engineering student died in hospital the next day of a traumatic brain injury.
Cambridgeshire assistant coroner Simon Milburn said Mr Millward and his girlfriend Daniella Mieloszyk took a substance which was probably 1P-LSD, which was a legal high at the time and has since been banned.
Jurors unanimously concluded that Mr Millward’s death was an accident following a three-day hearing.
Coroner Mr Milburn expressed his condolences to Mr Millward’s parents, Brian and Maisa Millward, and his sister Izy who were at the inquest, which Mr Milburn said would have been ‘an incredibly difficult experience’.
Ms Mieloszyk said she had obtained the drugs through a friend who bought them on the internet and the two of them had taken two tabs each.
After the drugs started to take effect they went to the room of their friend Tessa Duff, 20, to seek help.
Mr Millward and his girlfriend Daniella Mieloszyk took a substance which was probably 1P-LSD, a legal high at the time which has since been banned
Thomas’s mother Maisa Elsdale de Millward, sister Izy and father Brian Millward arriving at the inquest yesterday
Ms Duff said they ‘seemed confused a little bit’ and added: ‘If I tried to engage with them they would partially respond then look at me, and look at each other, and say ‘this is so strange, is this real?’
She said she walked them back to Mr Millward’s room and left them to sleep, then later heard an ‘echoey bang’ that sounded like someone banging a vending machine to get something out.
Days after the incident she noticed a ‘clear footprint in dust on top of the vending machine’ at the foot of the stairwell.
Another student, Harris Ryder, said in a written statement that he had previously seen Mr Millward slide down the banisters.
Mr Ryder once climbed over the banisters just above the vending machines as he ‘wanted to conquer the vending machines’
The inquest heard Mr Millward, originally from Cheltenham, had suffered a concussion while playing rugby days earlier, and also had a knee injury
Mr Ryder once climbed over the banisters just above the vending machines as he ‘wanted to conquer the vending machines’ and Mr Millward may have seen this, Mr Ryder added.
The inquest heard Mr Millward, originally from Cheltenham, had suffered a concussion while playing rugby days earlier, and also had a knee injury.
Dr Susan Paterson, head of the toxicology unit at Imperial College London, said analysis of blood samples showed Mr Millward had taken either LSD or 1P-LSD, but it was not possible to determine which substance or how much was taken.
She said of the ‘mind-altering’ substances: ‘It’s possible to think you can actually fly. That’s well-recorded with this drug.’
She added that the exact effects were ‘up to the individual’ and their surroundings and mood at the time.
Thomas Millward’s 21-year-old girlfriend Daniella Mieloszyk (pictured), a fellow Cambridge student, was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs with intent to supply but later released without charge
Dr Susan Paterson said of the ‘mind-altering’ substances: ‘It’s possible to think you can actually fly. That’s well-recorded with this drug’
Following the inquest, a statement was released on behalf of Girton College.
It said: ‘During his time at Cambridge, Thomas Millward was a loyal friend to those who knew him, a gifted student and a talented sportsman.
‘Girton College is a close-knit community and everyone was deeply affected by his death.
‘The College has a strict anti-drugs policy which all students read and sign before arrival.
Another student, Harris Ryder, said in a written statement that he had previously seen Mr Millward slide down the banisters. Thomas and Daniella are pictured
‘This has been updated to include what were formerly called “legal highs”.
‘Girton also has a well-developed health and safety process, which includes regular inspections and risk assessments, and routine reporting of accidents, near-accidents and risks, with prompt follow-up.
‘We again offer our sincere condolences to Thomas’s family and friends and continue to offer welfare support to students and staff affected by this tragedy.’
Mr Millward’s family made no comment as they left the hearing.