AN inquest into the death of Habib Ullah, who suffered a cardiac arrest while being searched for drugs by police in High Wycombe, began yesterday.

Mr Ullah, 39, died after being restrained by several officers who tried to force a package of drugs out of his throat, Buckinghamshire's coroner was told yesterday.

The proceedings heard evidence from witnesses on Monday, including one who said police threatened to break Mr Ullah’s arm during the search.

He had been stopped with two companions in Sharrow Vale on July 3, 2008 after intelligence led police to follow their car. The three had been taking cocaine and heroin earlier in the day, jurors heard.

The Peugeot 106 was searched along with the three passengers at about 7pm, before an officer shouted that Mr Ullah, of Slough, had something in his mouth, the inquest heard.

Emma Forbes, Mr Ullah's friend who was one of the passengers, told the jury: “That's when it went a bit chaotic.... They were trying to restrain him and trying to put their fingers in his mouth. I could see it was a bit rough the way that so many of them jumped on him.”

“A plain clothes police officer I believe said 'break his arm'... That's when they managed to get him on the floor.

She said four or five officers were then holding him down with his face to the ground. One was pressing against his throat with his thumbs as another held his mouth open, she said.

She added: "He couldn't speak because they had their hands around his throat, he couldn't say anything.

“I was saying to them he's going blue and they were just ignoring me... then he went limp.”

It became clear that Mr Ullah was not breathing properly and police called an ambulance, the inquest heard. He was taken to High Wycombe Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Claire Watson, representing Thames Valley Police, suggested that Mr Ullah was on all fours at one point in the struggle, when officers were trying to bend or 'break' the lock on his arms.

But Miss Forbes said she could not remember this happening, or whether officers had shouted to Mr Ullah not to swallow the drugs.

Miss Forbes said the police officers had helped paramedics when they arrived about five minutes later, but she could not remember whether the officers had given Mr Ullah CPR before this.

The couple's friend, Morris Nedd also gave evidence and said: “I've seen it before... they was trying to block his windpipe or whatever so he would spit it out.”

When it was suggested the car would have blocked his view he said the small size of the car meant he could see what was happening.

He said he heard an officer shout something about Mr Habib's arms, but could not be sure what it was.

The inquest was attended by Mr Ullah's wife and about 30 friends and family members. It is expected to last for eight days.