Nathan Lee Ariel, a 37-year-old ground worker from Maesteg, was found dead in his car the day after attending a barbecue with friends, an inquest opening at Swansea Coroner's Court has heard.
Family had no concerns
Mr Ariel's family visited him on Saturday, June 13, and said they had no obvious issues or concerns. He told them he planned to go to a friend's barbecue that evening, and a call at around 5pm confirmed he had attended. Again, they had no concerns after the call.
The next day, Sunday, June 14, his car was parked at the junction of Velindre Street and Cross Street in Port Talbot. It was first seen there at around 8am, but later someone reported seeing a male in the driver's seat and was concerned about how he appeared.
Discovery and investigation
The door was prized open and Mr Ariel was found unresponsive. Checks for signs of life were unsuccessful. At 5.41pm, paramedics pronounced life extinct. South Wales Police found no signs of trauma or disturbances in the vehicle.
A post mortem examination at Morriston Hospital on June 16 gave the cause of death as 1A poisoning as a result of cocaine toxicity.
Inquest adjourned
Senior coroner Aled Gruffydd opened a full inquest into Mr Ariel's death and adjourned the matter to January 7, 2027. He offered condolences to the family of the Bridgend-born man.
