A law student died after losing his balance and falling nine floors following a booze and drug fuelled night out, an inquest heard.
Luke Johns, 19, from Pontypridd in Wales, suffered multiple head injuries after he toppled over the stairway banister in his student accommodation.
The teenager had been drinking heavily, had smoked cannabis and then taken MDMA during a night out.
His fall was witnessed by a security guard who rushed to help Mr Johns at the student halls in Plymouth, Devon, but he had suffered catastrophic injuries.
Luke Johns, 19, from Pontypridd in Wales, suffered multiple head injuries after he toppled over the stairway banister in his student accommodation
The inquest, held at Plymouth Coroner’s Court heard that on the evening of February 18, 2017, Mr Johns had been to the student union bar before moving on to various pubs.
He and his friends later returned to his halls – Discovery Heights on Cobourg Street – and continued drinking and playing games in the communal area.
The teenager then left the room after becoming unwell in the early hours of February 19.
The court heard that a short time later a security guard saw him leaning over the banister and fall to the bottom of the stairwell.
Andrew Perry, who works for Unite Students, which owns the accommodation block, was on patrol on the night of the tragedy.
He told the court he had visited a flat on the ninth floor after a candle had triggered a smoke alarm sensor.
After investigating the incident, he left the room and heard a noise in the stairwell.
He said: ‘I stood in the lift lobby waiting for the lift and I heard some very faint sound of somebody out of breath and an urging-type noise.
‘I opened the door at the top of the stairs.’
He said he saw the teenager ‘balance over the railings facing upwards’ between the eighth and ninth floor.
‘He fell over the railings,’ he added.
‘I ran down the stairs phoning 999 and put on my gloves.’
The court heard Mr Perry began administering CPR and did ‘everything he could’ in a desperate bid to save the teenager.
Deputy coroner Andrew Cox praised him for his actions, saying: ‘Thank you very much indeed for what you tried to do for Luke that night.
‘Lots of people wouldn’t be able to do that and you did do that.’
DC Sarah Thorne told the inquest that there was no evidence of any third party involvement in Mr Johns’ death.
Tributes laid by the stairs near where Mr Johns died at the halls of residence
She said students told officers that a number of people, including Mr Johns, had smoked cannabis and taken MDMA that night.
The court heard the teenager died from multiple head injuries.
A post mortem examination revealed he had also suffered large cuts to his armpit and lower leg and compound fractures to his his left tibia and fibula.
Toxicology tests showed he had 196mg of alcohol in 100ml of his blood – about two and a half times the legal drink-drive limit.
The court heard the level of MDMA in his system was well below the toxic range but could have had a significant impact on his balance, coordination and judgement.
Mr Cox, deputy coroner from Plymouth, described the death as an ‘absolute tragedy’.
He said: ‘The circumstances as we have heard is that Luke was doing what all students do – having a good time.
‘I think what has happened to Luke, he’s gone out, had a good night out with his friends. He’s had a bit too much to drink and he’s taken drugs, which I cannot condone.
‘I’m quite clear he didn’t intend to fall over and perhaps lost his balance because he’s under the influence.
‘I think he may have staggered and lost his balance for whatever reason and he’s toppled over the bannister and fallen to his death. This by all description is an accident.
‘It is a horrible accident and an absolute tragedy.’
The coroner returned a verdict of accidental death.
After the inquest, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that a 20-year-old man was arrested following the death and that the investigation is ongoing.
A spokesman said: ‘A 20-year-old man from Clayworth, Retford, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of ecstasy and released under investigation pending further enquires.’
Following his death, floral tributes were left near the stairs at the Discovery Heights, next to lit candles, a bottle of scrumpy and cans of cider.
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