Man, 31, died after he tripped & fell on a step inches from his door after night out as tributes pour in

TRIBUTES are pouring in for a "loved" man who died after he tripped and fell just inches from his door on his way home from a night out.

Alex Murray was tragically found unresponsive by his mum in the garden of their Preston house after celebrating landing a new job.

He was just 31 when he died in October last year, and said to have been "loved by everyone".

An inquest today heard how Alex had been day drinking with pals in various pubs in Blackburn ahead of starting work at a new company.

The 31-year-old was last seen on CCTV staggering towards his home at 2.40am.

He disappeared around the side of the house before later being found by his devastated mum.

reported how Sergeant Chris Birchall of Lancashire Constabulary, who was one of the first on the scene, today spoke at the inquest into Alex's death.

Mr Birchall told the hearing that it appeared as if Alex had fallen or tripped next to a small step in the garden - and that there was no evidence of third-party involvement.

Sergeant Birchall said: "Alex was found lying on the floor with his head on a small step.

"He was about six feet away from the side door. It wasn't possible to say exactly what happened but potentially it was a fall."

The inquest heard Alex was seen on CCTV leaving a pub at around 1am, after the day's drinking with pals.

He was believed to have visited another pub before stumbling home at 2.40am.

The inquest heard how Alex's post mortem revealed he had suffered a small subarachnoid haemorrhage - where a head injury causes bleeding in the space that surrounds the brain.

The 31-year-old also had a fractured eye socket.

Toxicology tests found he was intoxicated at the time of his death.

A neurosurgeon said although he couldn't definitely say the haemorrhage was the cause of Alex's death, it was a possibility.

Assistant Coroner Sian Jones concluded the 31-year-old's death was an accident.

She told the room: "I am satisfied he had been drinking and had taken some cocaine but neither of those were likely to be the direct cause of his death.

"However the alcohol did affect his mobility and stability and it's likely to have caused or contributed to his fall because it would have increased the risk of him having a fall.

"I am satisfied that what he suffered was a simple accident."

After the inquest Alex's sister Vanessa told LancsLive: "He was loved by so many people."

Alex's mum added: "He was over the moon about his new job. He'd found out earlier in the week and I can still see his face after he got the news; he was buzzing all week."