A YOUNG Hereford man died after inhaling a chemical commonly known as laughing gas, an inquest heard.

Mitchell Hughes, 22, was found dead in his bedroom with a plastic bag over his head by his mother at their home in Charles Witts Avenue, Hunderton.

Yesterday's inquest at Herefordshire Coroner's Court heard a post mortem recorded the cause of death as inhalation of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas.

A toxicology report showed he also had 249mg of alcohol in his blood – the legal limit for driving is 80mg.

Police found nitrous oxide canisters in his bedroom and a bottle of vodka. There was no note left at the scene.

The inquest heard Mr Hughes had last seen his doctor for depression in 2013, which was when he was last prescribed antidepressants and he had seen a mental health nurse at the time who said he was identified as low risk to himself and others.

In a statement read to the inquest his mum, Amanda Hyde, said her son had suffered from depression as he had not been able to get an apprenticeship after completing two years of studies in plumbing.

His mum said: "When he was working he changed as a person back to his normal happy self."

Two days before he died Mr Hughes was going for a job and his mum said he had seemed happy.

She did not see him again until she found him on March 6 of this year at around midday.

Coroner Mark Bricknell said he did not think the depression two years prior to his death was either substantial or of great concern.

He added: "While the level of intoxication are significant they are not in themselves sufficient to kill someone – nor sufficient, perhaps, of the actions of a person intending to take his own life."

Mr Bricknell said the bag over Mr Hughes' head was in no way enough to say he took his own life, when considered with the other factors.

He concluded an accidental death.

Following the inquest, his grandfather Pete Whittaker said: "Mitchell was a wonderful, loving son and grandson. I knew from day one he wasn't capable of suicide. He enjoyed life. He loved sport. He was just a loving grandson and missed every day."

Part of a tribute from his mum read: "We will miss you for the laughter we shared, we will miss you for the friendships forged, and we will miss you in the defiant moments when you stood your and our ground for us."