friend's Pembroke home.

Father-of-two Mr. Leroy Theophilus Baker suffered acute alcoholic poisoning according to the autopsy report.

Tests showed he had up to 557 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood, the inquest heard yesterday.

Coroner the Wor. Charles-Etta Simmons recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

The hearing was told Police officers ruled out foul play, despite initial suspicions.

There had been rumours Mr. Baker -- who was found with a fractured rib and bruised eye -- had been struck by a concrete lump.

Events leading up to Mr. Baker's death in the early hours of December 6 last year were revealed by his friend.

Mr. Richard Sinclair Armstrong, whose statement was read out by a Police officer, said Mr. Baker had been staying at his home at Footbridge Lane.

The pair, with two friends, began drinking on the morning of December 5.

They got through three litre bottles and a flask of black rum, and some beer.

Mr. Armstrong said Mr. Baker fell asleep on his bed at about 6.30 p.m.

About two hours later, Mr. Armstrong also felt tired. He got his friend to sleep on the floor so he could lie on his bed.

Mr. Armstrong said he saw Mr. Baker still on the floor the next morning.

"I gave him a nudge and he did not move. I shook him, and he still did not move. I realised something was wrong.'' Mr. Armstrong alerted his sister who raised the alarm. A short while later he heard his friend was dead.

A statement by Mr. Baker's youngest brother, Edwin, was also read out.

In it, Mr. Baker said his brother was a motor mechanic who boosted his income by working as a security guard.

Although unmarried, his brother, of Glebe Road, Pembroke, had two daughters, said Mr. Baker.

He added he had heard "wild rumours'' about his brother being struck by a concrete block.

But after seeing the body he was satisfied foul play could be ruled out.

Det. Con. Terence Maxwell, who headed the investigation into the death, told the hearing he found nothing to back up suspicions of foul play.

He said Mr. Baker may have received bruises and bumps at work.

Det. Con. Maxwell added he could not envisage any struggle taking place in the apartment.

The inquest heard an autopsy report ruled Mr. Baker died from acute alcoholic poisoning.

Pathologist Dr. John Winwick believed the fractured rib was caused just before Mr. Baker's death.

"The style of the fracture is more in keeping with a fall over a sharp edge or a table, or even the back of a chair.'' Dr. Winwick said Mr. Baker's alcohol intake may have affected his balance, causing him to fall.

But he stressed he could only speculate how the injuries were caused.