Swansea University student died in fall after taking a combination of drugs

A Swansea University student died after falling from a sixth-floor window where he had taken a combination of drugs, an inquest has heard.

The student, named Matthew Gilbert, 19, was in critical condition for over a week before dying, following the fall from a window at Singleton Campus in April. Matthew was a first year student studying law and criminology.

According to the BBC, the inquest heard how he had been smoking marijuana with a friend, followed by taking magic mushrooms and ketamine.

His friend had fallen asleep, and Matthew had tried to open the doors of other rooms in his flat to leave, but wasn’t able to do so due to being disorientated.

CCTV footage shows Matthew trying to get into a lift of his friend’s accommodation, believing he was in his own. Being disorientated, he returned to the communal kitchen where he caused damage, before he forced open the window and fell.

He was heard shouting: “I can’t do this – no, no, no,” whilst pacing up and down the corridor, and an alert was made just after 2am on 14 April by students in the building.

The window had a restrictor in place to prevent someone from falling, which was suitably maintained and in good working order, the inquest heard.

The director of student life at Swansea University, Gareth Hughes, suggested that Matthew had pulled the window open so much as to break the hinges and restrictor, allowing him to fall.

Matthew’s mother, Lindsay Gilbert, said she does not “want his legacy to under the carpet”. She is concerned there is a lack of awareness surrounding the dangers of ketamine, and therefore she did not mind the university using Matthew as an example to raise awareness.

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Lindsay further questioned the university’s actions in making an effort to raise awareness about the dangers of drug use. Gareth Hughes responded, saying that the university warns students of the risks in taking drugs using examples.

The inquest resolved that Matthew Gilbert’s death was an accident.