A 21-year-old man died of a suspected ecstasy overdose after being discovered in a garden shed at home in Sheerness.

Jacob Paul Endean was found at 7.30am on Saturday, July 18, at Davy Close. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

At the opening of the inquest into his death, held at the Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone, coroner Katrina Hepburn said a post mortem examination had given the cause of death as toxic consumption of MDMA and had also noted morphine and cocaine use.

The inquest was adjourned until January 19 next year at the Archbishop's Palace.

Jacob had been a volunteer at the Sheppey-based Kent Wildlife Rescue charity for nearly two years.

A Gofundeme page has been set up in his memory to raise £10,000 to keep the organisation operating and has so far raised £3,176.

The page states: "You gave your time to care for injured and sick animals. You touched the hearts of so many people. You left us far too soon."

Lorraine St John, who started the charity, said: "Jacob was a very polite and quiet soul who always had a smile on his face.

"He made a fantastic contribution. He had an a natural rapport with all the animals. He cleaned cages, mucked in and helped with all the tasks. Sometimes he was happy to just cuddle the animals if they needed it. He said he felt calm and at peace when he was with us."

She added: "Sometimes he'd come on emergencies. His first was to rescue a seal from Shellness and helped carry it back to my car. He would drop anything if he was needed. He is really missed here."

She said she was one of the last to see him alive.

Kent Wildlife Rescue Service is in desperate need of contributions as all its fundraising events have been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Lorraine said: "We have reached breaking point. Many other animal rescue services have closed down which has greatly increased the area.

"We have been working at over capacity 24/7 alongside the emergency services. Our vet bill is continuously rising. This month's bill is £2,700."

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