Daniel Dean Williams, aged 25, died after ordering drugs online that were delivered directly to his front door. An inquest at Swansea Guildhall on Wednesday heard how Mr Williams was found collapsed on the floor at around 7am by his partner before he was pronounced dead in the same place more than 10 hours later.
Partner sought advice from others
It was heard how his partner was inexperienced with drugs and sought advice from others including one person who reassured her it was “normal” and another who told her to put him in the recovery position in case he vomited.
PC Callum Rees of South Wales Police read out his covering report into the case to the court. He said Mr Williams began life as a “happy child” who loved football. His mother Donna O'Leary would take him to sessions every week, he said.
Early life and drug use
At the age of four it was heard how Mr Williams went to live with his grandmother but remained in very close contact with his mother and visited her “every single day”. When Mr Williams turned seven it was heard how behavioural issues were flagged and he became involved with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.
Around the time Mr Williams joined secondary school his grandmother died which had a huge impact on him. It was heard how he had had a mother-like relationship with her and a sister-like relationship with his mother. Following his grandmother’s death it was heard how Mr Williams moved to live with his mother which he found disruptive. He began using the drug spice from the age of 14.
PC Rees said Mr Williams was able to buy spice over the counter from shops in Neath. His use of spice led to him being treated in hospital and put into intensive care 24 times, it was heard.
Mental health and subsequent drug use
While on the drug it was heard he became aggressive and so he ended up in care. Aged 15 he was moved to a mental health hospital for children. PC Rees said this was a positive experience for Mr Williams and led to a reduction in his drug use and his wish to “turn his life around”. However it was heard that he was left with serious psychological harm from his years exposed to spice. He was subsequently diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Leading up to his death PC Rees said Mr Williams had discovered the social media platform Telegram, which he used to order drugs which were then delivered straight to his front door. It was heard Mr Williams preferred this method as he didn’t have to speak to drug dealers and didn't have to leave his property. Mr Williams experimented with a range of drugs including ketamine, acid, crack cocaine, and possibly heroin.
Final days and death
Mr Williams met his partner Sophie Powell in Turkey in 2024. It was heard how she took care of him and helped around his house. In March 2025 it was heard how Mr Williams was sectioned and placed into the care of Cefn Coed Hospital before he was later discharged. Around three or four days before Mr Williams’ death on February 12 it was heard he received a drugs package before he embarked on a “binge”.
That morning at around 7am it was heard how Ms Powell discovered Mr Williams lying on the floor in the corridor of his flat. It was heard how Ms Powell sought advice from one of Mr Williams’ family members who reassured her that this was “normal” and that he was “gauching (or gouching) out”– a slang term understood to refer to someone heavily sedated or drowsy after taking a substance. Ms Powell also sought advice from Mr Williams’ mother who told her to put him in the recovery position. By around 2pm it was heard Mr Williams was “groaning” but would not wake up.
Shortly before 5pm it was heard that Ms Powell video called his brother, Jamie, who told her he believed Mr Williams was deceased. At 4.58pm it was heard that Ms Powell phoned 999 for an ambulance and began CPR. Police officers and paramedics arrived soon afterwards and declared Mr Williams dead at 5.20pm. Following his death it was heard that crime scene investigators visited the property and found “clear signs of drug use” in Mr Williams’ bedroom.
Toxicology and cause of death
Coroner Aled Gruffydd read out details from a post-mortem examination report by Dr Tawfik Elazzabi. It revealed no evidence of injury or natural disease. A sample of blood was sent to toxicology which showed a number of substances in Mr Williams’ system. These included diazepam and a small amount of oxazepam. “Relatively small amounts” of cocaine were also found but a significant amount of its metabolite, benzoylecgonine, was found.
Mr Gruffydd explained cocaine is one of few substances that continue to be metabolised by the body after death. He said that 3,742 nanograms of benzoylecgonine was found in Mr Williams’ blood, which is “well above the lethal range of 1,000 nanograms”. A non-fatal amount of morphine was also found however the substance interacts with diazepam and can lead to respiratory depression, it was heard. The medical cause of death was given as multiple drug toxicity. Mr Gruffydd gave a conclusion of drug-related death. He passed on his “deepest condolences” to Mr Williams’ family.
