A MAN died in a crash on the A338 after falling unconscious at the wheel, having taken a cocktail of drugs, an inquest heard.

William Cooper from Mockbeggar crashed into a tree near Fordingbridge after taking heroin and getting behind the wheel.

The 30-year-old plumber had been described by his boss as a “model employee”.

But the inquest into his death was told that he was a regular substance abuser who took a variety of Class A drugs.

Long-time friend Carl Jefferies told Southampton Coroner’s Court the plumber asked to stay the night at his mobile home in Blissford before the crash in the early hours of October 5.

Mr Jefferies, a recovering heroin user, said Mr Cooper hid his habit out of consideration, adding that he was “not aware” of any drugs being taken that night.

He told the court: “He went to his van a couple of times to get filters and things like that.

“I didn’t think anything of it at the time – knowing what I know now, there could have been opportunities.”

Mr Jefferies left Mr Cooper to sleep on the sofa at around 1am but woke later that morning to find his friend was gone.

He had driven away at around 4am, taking heroin and a little known “designer” drug, diclazepam, shortly before starting his Ford Transit van.

Approaching a sharp bend near Hern Lane without wearing a seatbelt, he fell unconscious and crashed into a signpost and tree, rupturing a key blood vessel, the inquest was told.

The scene was discovered by revellers returning from nights out in Bournemouth and Boscombe, who attempted CPR after pulling him out of the van.

Police, ambulance and fire crews were called out but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Blood tests revealed Mr Cooper’s morphine level was almost twice the average found in fatal accidents and just under 10 times the limit set to be introduced in new drug driving laws this year.

Toxicologist Peter Streete said the heroin dose, which releases morphine into the bloodstream, could have killed him even if he hadn’t crashed.

Hundreds of residents have called for safety improvements on the notorious stretch of road, which has claimed five lives since 2004.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, senior Hampshire and New Forest coroner Grahame Short said Mr Cooper “could have survived if he had been wearing a seatbelt”.