Havant man named 'Elvis Presley' died after taking steroids to keep fit in the gym, inquest is told

Elvis Aaron Presley O'Brien was taken to hospital in the early hours of September 21 last year after waking up his partner Pippa Kearn by making ‘snoring and gurgling' noises in his sleep.

Despite attempts to resuscitate the 38-year-old in his sleep, Mr O'Brien, from Havant, died at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.

The inquest held in Portsmouth heard that a post-mortem examination found that he had an enlarged heart and the anabolic steroid drostanolone was present in his urine, although the cause of death was unascertained.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Jason Pegg said: ‘I cannot be certain how Elvis died but it is probable that his enlarged heart and the anabolic steroid contributed to his death.’

Mr O'Brien's fiancee Pippa Kearn described him as ‘amazing’ and added: ‘He was the kindest, most caring person I have ever met.’

She told the inquest by videolink that Mr O'Brien lived a healthy lifestyle, was a regular gym-goer and did not regularly drink alcohol.

Explaining his steroid use, she said: ‘I guess it was because he wanted to perform better in the gym, I didn't ask him his reasons for wanting to do it.

‘His mood did change a little but it went back to normal.’