DJ, 48, found dead on pal’s sofa after taking medication for back pain following livestream party gig
A STAR DJ was found dead on her friend's sofa after taking medication for back pain following a livestream party gig.
Lisa Helena Zarecky, 48, had spent years taking prescribed pills after a 2014 car crash left her in excruciating pain.
The artist - who was Glastonbury Festival's first female breakbeat DJ - had performed at an online livestream party before staying over at a friend's place in Swansea, South Wales, in May last year.
The following day, Lisa's friend Owain Jones came in to find her lying on the sofa with her eyes open.
She was pronounced dead at the scene, an inquest heard.
Close to Lisa was a wide array of prescription medications.
The car crash in 2014 had a "profound impact on the rest of her life" - with her regularly battling agonising pain, the hearing was told.
Toxicology reports found Lisa had an enlarged liver at the time of her death along with traces of prescription drugs and methadone.
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Lisa was born in Aldershot but moved around a lot in her youth - growing up in Germany, Oxford and Cyprus thanks to her dad's role in the military.
She had settled in London after university and travelled across the UK as a DJ, her family said.
But she became "withdrawn" during lockdown and stopped exercising, choosing instead to spend much of her time in her bedroom.
In a statement, her loved ones said they saw a "significant shift in her demeanour".
The inquest heard she had been looking forward to performing at the livestream party in Swansea, South Wales, in May last year.
Her brother watched the party on the online stream and said it was "wonderful to see Lisa enjoying herself".
Acting senior coroner Colin Phillips recorded conclusion of a drug-related death at the inquest in Swansea.
He said: ";She died as a result of the unintended consequences of consuming prescription medication for chronic pain" and recorded a drug-related death.
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Following the inquest, Lisa's friend Charlotte Toney paid tribute, adding: "Lisa was an energetic, creative, kind and caring soul to everyone.
"Lisa has left a hole behind that will never be filled by those that knew and loved her best but she will always be remembered as the shining light she was, no matter what."
