Warning after Dubliner (38) dies from using anabolic steroids
An inquest into the death of a Dublin man has found he died due to steroids. The Coroner and the dead man's family have both warned others about using the drugs.
The family of a 38-year-old Dublin man who died after using anabolic steroids and a Coroner have urged others to take his death as a warning.
Stuart Lakes was found dead at his home on December 8th, 2015. His body was discovered in the bedroom by his friend with whom he shared the house at Melrose Place, Bluebell.
The inquest into the death of the bodybuilder concluded that while other drugs were in his system, it was his use of steroids that caused his death.
A post mortem on his body by pathologist Dr Crona Gallagher concluded he suffered sudden cardiac death due to severe coronary artery stenosis on a background of anabolic steroid use.
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His left coronary artery was found 80 per cent narrowed and the other two main coronary arteries were narrowed by 70 per cent and 30 per cent.
The other drugs Mr Lakes’ system included heroin but were not present in levels high enough to have caused his death, his inquest hearing in Dublin was told yesterday.
While Mr Lakes was a body builder, it is widely accepted that steroid use is a growing problem in Ireland.
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The Garda has made a number of large seizures recently that suggest the trade in steroids is significant in Ireland.
Last month, for example, 60,000 vials of anabolic steroids were seized in a number of places in Donegal. Human growth hormone was also found, with the haul valued at €2 million.
Last week another seizure was mad, this time in Dublin.
About 26,000 steroid tablets and 4,000 steroid ampoules were found and had a value of about €30,000. They had been sourced from Romania.
Coroner on steroid risk even for very young
Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane, at the inquest of Mr Lakes, said narrowing of the coronary arteries was associated with steroid use.
“The unregulated use of anabolic steroids carries potential risks. One has been identified here by the pathologist,” she said at the inquest.
She added the use of steroids could cause narrowing of the arteries even in very young users.
A Garda witness who worked on the case said steroids were easily available to buy on the internet.
The dead man’s family has urged others using steroids to take the death of Mr Lakes as a warning.
His uncle John Gavin said: “We want this to highlight the dangers of the use of anabolic steroids.”
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