A father-of-three died from a combination of drug toxicity and natural causes, an inquest heard today.

Nicholas Harrison, from Chalfont St Giles, was found dead in his home office by wife Thanathip after he failed to respond to several Whatsapp messages that she sent.

Senior Buckinghamshire coroner Crispin Butler heard that the 38-year-old had gone into his office to have a glass of wine and take a gram of cocaine after receiving news of a job offer on March 31 this year.

The court also heard that Mr Harrison, who worked as head of financial operations, was addicted to Xanax as a result of job stress, taking up to 10 tablets when he was at his most stressed.

In a statement read out to the court, Mrs Harrison described how she broke down the door of his office, which was locked, after failing to receive any replies to several Whatsapp messages she had sent in the hours leading up to his death on April 1.

She said: “He didn’t read the last three Whatsapp messages as the ticks were grey rather than blue.

“I started feeling really weird that something was wrong. I knocked on his door but there was no answer.”

Mrs Harrison described trying to open the door with a metal coat hanger and when that didn’t work, used her body to force the door open.

She said: “I saw Nick lying on his back with his eyes and mouth open. I ran into my daughter’s bedroom and called 999.

“They told me to start CPR on him which I did, but I knew he was dead.”

Mr Harrison was sadly pronounced dead by paramedics at 4.37pm.

Mrs Harrison added: “I am devastated at the loss of my husband.”

Toxicology reports found 1.4mg of cocaine and 0.15mg of Xanax (alprazolam) in his blood, and the medical cause of death was ruled as a bilateral pulmonary embolism, acute cocaine toxicity and a background contributory cause of alprazolam toxicity.

Speaking in court, his sister Sue said: “He was a hard working boy. He was solid in his job, he was in his job for eight years.

“He was a family man. I see it as a tragic accident but I can’t help but think due to the nature of his work, sitting at a desk all day – I understand an embolism can be caused that way.”

Mr Butler reached a conclusion of a short narrative, saying Mr Harrison died of a “combination of drug toxicity and natural causes”.

Did you know Nicholas? Leave a tribute by commenting below or emailing shruti.sheth@london.newsquest.co.uk.