Firefighter died after 'taking cocaine', inquest hears

A firefighter was found dead by his wife after taking cocaine following a day of drinking with his colleagues, an inquest has heard.

Francois 'Frankie' Childs, 44, became 'rigid' and 'unresponsive' after returning to his home in Prestwich, Bury, following an afternoon at the pub with his friends in Manchester on September 2.

Police coroners officer Bernadette Hatton told the hearing that Mr Childs 'took cocaine' when he returned to his house on Bannerman Avenue.

Mr Childs, a firefighter on Green Watch at Broughton Community Fire Station, went to sleep later that night but tragically never woke up.

His wife Sarah said she was 'disturbed in bed as she felt him go rigid' and he became unresponsive, Manchester Evening News reports.

Emergency services rushed to the property but paramedics were unable to revive him and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

An inquest at Rochdale Coroners Court ruled that his cause of death was 'cocaine-associated toxicity'.

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Assistant coroner Michael Salt adjourned the inquest with a date for a further hearing to be confirmed.

After a career in banking, Mr Childs became a former Army reservist and served with the machine gun platoon of the Bury Fusiliers before later signing up as a firefighter. 

He leaves behind his wife Sarah and two children, his parents and three brothers.

Sarah Nattrass, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Service Delivery, said: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our colleagues and share our heartfelt condolences with Frankie's family, friends and colleagues.

'Frankie was part of our GMFRS family for more than six years as a much-loved member of Green Watch, Broughton, and he will be very sadly missed by all his friends and colleagues.'

The Fire Brigades Union also paid tribute to Mr Childs, who supported a Care 4 Calais charity trip to France in November last year.

A spokesman added: 'Frankie was one of 12 FBU members who volunteered their time to travel to France to support the Care 4 Calais Charity in November of 2023. Care 4 Calais supports the thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum across the UK and northern France. 

'They offer their time to collect and distribute essential items and provide social support, and to help in many other different ways, from replying to messages, to fundraising and admin.

'The charity could not provide this support without dedicated and caring people like Frankie. His support will not be forgotten by the FBU or by the many people his efforts undoubtedly helped contributed to making refugees lives better.'