A man initially thought to have been murdered died of a heart attack after swinging a car jack at a man who had failed to pay him for drugs, an inquest has heard.

Barry Collins, 46, died in hospital nine days after the altercation outside the Co-op in Brookfield Road, South Ashford.

Police launched a murder investigation following the father-of-five's death, but an inquest at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard how Mr Collins suffered a heart attack when he fell over on a grassy area close to the store.

The hearing was told the Hothfield resident, who lived in Beech Drive, had confronted the man and the pair began to fight.

After knocking the glasses off the man, aged 30, Mr Collins produced a car jack from his pick-up and began to chase him.

He then slipped over on grass by the parade of shops and fell onto his face.

The hearing was told the man, who was from the Ashford area, kicked Mr Collins in the head or torso after the fall as he thought he was going to get up.

Conflicting accounts from witnesses placed the kick on either body part, but a post-mortem examination found no bruising which would prove the actions of the man caused the death.

The man then attempted to leave the scene on his bicycle, but returned to the grassy area after he was informed Mr Collins had not got up.

He attempted to put him in the recovery position and called the emergency services as he left on his bike.

The incident happened at about 8.30pm on Thursday, December 21 last year.

'This is the case of a man with a cardiac issue that could have killed him at any time, even in bed in his sleep...' - toxicology report

Despite being found with no pulse, medics revived Mr Collins' heartbeat and rushed the general builder to King's College Hospital in London.

Having been treated in an intensive care unit for more than a week, he failed to regain consciousness and died on December 30, 2017.

On New Year’s Eve, officers in Bexleyheath arrested the 30-year-old on suspicion of murder, but he was later released following exhaustive interviews with witnesses and the reviewing of CCTV footage.

The inquest, held last Wednesday, reviewed Mr Collins' medical history, which included heart-related issues as evidenced by a heart attack in 2003.

He also suffered from diabetes and at one point had to take 16 prescriptions to maintain his health.

A toxicology report also found a number of drugs in his system, including fentanyl, diazepam and cocaine.

It was not clear which substances were introduced to his body during his hospital treatment, but a toxicology report determined that "cocaine use may increase the risk of a major cardiac arrest".

It continued: "This is the case of a man with a cardiac issue that could have killed him at any time, even in bed in his sleep."

The neuropathologist concluded the physiological and psychological stress of the incident, coupled with recent cocaine use, caused the fatal heart attack.

Coroner Scott Matthewson agreed with the findings and concluded that Mr Collins' death was a natural one, with his history of heart-related illness, diabetes and recent cocaine use factoring into the official's decision.

At the time of the incident, police tape surrounded a patch of grass measuring about 50 yards by 40 yards behind the shops and in front of homes on a neighbouring housing estate.

Mr Collins is survived by five children and his wife of 30 years.