A young rugby player described as 'adored by everyone who knew him' died after falling from a multi-storey car park in Liverpool city centre, an inquest has heard. Josh Perry, 21, plummeted from the nineteenth floor of a car park on Renshaw Street on March 14, 2025, and was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts to save his life.
The inquest at Gerard Majella Courthouse on April 2 heard that Mr Perry had struggled with ketamine addiction. His mother, Natasha Perry, had asked him to leave the family home the day before his death due to his drug use. She had found residue of the Class A drug in his bedroom after suspecting he had taken it while driving to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting.
Mr Perry began taking ketamine at age 17, and his addiction worsened over time. In November 2024, he was diagnosed with ketamine bladder, a chronic condition caused by recreational misuse of the drug. He self-referred to rehab, where he stayed for eight weeks and got clean, consuming up to 7g of ketamine daily before treatment. He was discharged on March 9, 2025.
His aunt, Tammy, read a statement describing Mr Perry as a 'golden child' who had a brilliant sense of humour and was a hard worker. He had a successful rugby career, signing to play for Warrington Wolves. The family cherished memories of holidays and his love for Christmas. 'He lived for a good time not a long time,' the statement said.
Mr Perry's family expressed their devastation, with his mother noting the 'devastating impact' of his addiction on the family. The inquest continues.
