A young dad died years after sustaining serious injuries in a hit-and-run, an inquest has heard.

Folkestone man Luke Stanley died in hospital after the injuries worsened his depression, and alcohol and drug habits.

The 36-year-old died at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford after he experienced multi-organ failure, having developing sepsis from pneumonia.

However, an inquest at the Archbishop's Palace in Maidstone heard that the father-of-one had spiralled in the battle against mental health issues, as well as alcohol and opioid addiction, after being seriously injured by a vehicle years prior.

Mr Stanley had been crossing Dymchurch Road in Hythe to catch a bus when a car had moved to overtake at speed, striking him and severely fracturing his arm and leg.

The car involved in the collision, which took place in January 2019, was never recovered.

The injuries to Mr Stanely's leg were so severe that he had to have it in a metallic brace, with metal grafts on the bones to try and straighten them.

This was said to have worsened his mental health, as well as his dependency on alcohol and drugs to try and cope with the pain.

A police report read out in court stated that on May 16, 2021, he was found in a room at the Windsor Hotel in Folkestone, barely conscious after reportedly taking cocaine and heroine in an apparent attempt to take his own life.

During the same year, he missed numerous appointments for his leg, which repeatedly became infected around the metal pins.

The situation became so severe that he was placed on a waiting list to have the leg amputated on January 28 this year – however, on January 3 he was rushed to the William Harvey severely ill.

His condition continued to worsen, and he tragically passed three days later, with his cause of death officiall given as multi-organ failure due to sepsis, due to pneumonia with a background of decompensated alcoholic liver disease, pancreatitis, opiate dependency, and complications to fractures to arm and lower leg due to a road traffic collision.

Area Coroner Katrina Hepburn said that it was "clear" that the crash contributed to Mr Stanely's death.

"The pain and discomfort from his injuries caused him to 'self medicate' with drugs and alcohol," she said.
"His death was contributed to by injuries, but also drug dependencies and liver disease."