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Inquest held into John-Henry Brazil who was found unresponsive in Meadow Crest Farm, Addington

05:00, 09 July 2022

updated: 12:39, 09 July 2022

A man who was found "unresponsive" in a field died due to cardiac arrest following blunt facial trauma and alcohol intoxication, an inquest heard.

John-Henry Brazil, 23, was discovered "lying on his back" in Meadow Crest Farm in Addington, on August 28.

An inquest was held for John-Henry Brazil who died in West Malling. Picture: John-Henry Brazil Facebook
An inquest was held for John-Henry Brazil who died in West Malling. Picture: John-Henry Brazil Facebook

At an inquest, coroner Katrina Hepburn heard how the builder was attending the Kent Horse Fair with his family.

Reading evidence from paramedics, she said crews arrived at the scene around 9.15pm where bystanders were already giving the victim CPR. Crews took over but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Ms Hepburn also read out a toxicology report which noted high levels of alcohol in John-Henry's system and said he was "under the influence".

A post-mortem examination showed the 23-year-old from Chichester had facial bruising possibly from a punch, a fractured nose and a lip laceration.

Deputy senior investigating officer, DS Lambert, appeared via video link and told the court the force was contacted by paramedics to attend the scene in London Road where a man who was "not breathing and unconscious".

John-Henry Brazil (right) was visiting the Kent Horse Fair. Picture: John-Henry Brazil Facebook
John-Henry Brazil (right) was visiting the Kent Horse Fair. Picture: John-Henry Brazil Facebook

An investigation was carried out and another attendee of the fair admitted to punching John-Henry in self-defence but DS Lambert said there was no witnesses or evidence to confirm the allegation.

DS Lambert said the man who allegedly assaulted John-Henry said he did so in a different location in which the builder was found and when he "ran off" the victim reportedly shouted after him. It is believed he was still alive at that point but DS Lambert said "we do not know what happened in the period between."

Multiple people were also arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, the court heard, but due to the lack of evidence were released. The investigation was concluded with the death being ruled as "circumstances unknown".

He was found in a field in Meadow Crest Farm
He was found in a field in Meadow Crest Farm

Ms Hepburn told the court there is "limited information of what was happening" and "there seems to be a number of options of how he got there."

She said it could of been possible he was punched or that he fell onto a hard surface but added: "There is insufficient evidence of how he got the [facial] injury. There are a number of question marks over the events."

After hearing all the evidence, Ms Hepburn read a narrative conclusion and said he died due to a cardiac arrest following blunt facial trauma and alcohol intoxication.

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