AN inquest has been told that a Knutsford man died from a caffeine overdose after suffering from a psychotic condition.

Edward Fisher, 24, of Mardon Close, died on August 17, 2011, at Macclesfield Hospital.

His family attended a hearing into his death which was held at Crewe Law courts on Wednesday, February 29.

The coroner for Cheshire, Nicholas Rheinberg, was told Mr Fisher had a history of psychiatric problems, for which he was receiving treatment at the time of his death.

Edward, a support analyst who worked for Barclays and had a love of going to the gym, had only recently bought his house in Mardon Close in the town.

His brother, Lawrence, had travelled from Hampshire to help him move in.

On August 16, following a family meal at their parents’ house, Lawrence was in his room when Edward entered in an agitated state having digested caffeine tablets.

An ambulance was called and Edward was taken to hospital, but died later the next day.

Mr Rheinberg told the court that in his 20 years of being a coroner he had never seen the levels of toxicity which were found in Edward.

A report from the pathologist said that the level of caffeine found in the blood of coffee and tea drinkers was around 3mg per litre of blood, but in Edward’s case the level had reached 367mg of caffeine per litre of blood.

“Outside of university I would consider Ed to be my best friend, and brothers seem to have that rapport,” Lawrence said.

“We had similar types of interest – I loved him to pieces.”

Edward’s dad, Trenholm Fisher, said: “Edward was a very private, quiet and loving son, and the irony is that he didn’t want to hurt us.

“He was very measured but he didn’t do a great deal outside of his exercise and his work.

“When he was unwell he lost interest in most things and felt he had to get through the day.

“On the medicine he would emit much more sociable behaviour and not be as reclusive.”

The coroner was told that Edward had been seeing a psychiatrist and had been taking medication for his condition.

But earlier that week he had told his mum, Sarah, that he had stopped taking the tablets.

Evidence was read out from Mark Paton, an e-forensic technician with Cheshire Police, who had found websites relating to suicide and overdoses on Edward’s iPhone.

Concluding, Mr Rheinberg recorded a verdict that Edward took his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.