By Sadiq Abdulfatah

A UK coroner’s inquest has found that a Saudi prince who died at a luxury hotel in London last year died after taking a deadly combination of alcohol, party drugs and prescription medicine.

The deceased, Prince Abdullah bin Fahad bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Jalawi Al Saud, 29, was found dead in his room at the Marriott Hotel in Kensington after suffering cardiac arrest caused by taking multiple drugs.

According to the court, the prince had checked into the hotel for a week-long stay and was last seen on CCTV on the evening before his death when he stepped outside for a cigarette.

The next day, a hotel cleaner found him fully clothed on the bathroom floor of his fifth-floor room. Emergency workers were called but could not revive him, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

Tests showed that his blood alcohol level was almost three times England’s legal drink-driving limit. Investigators also found dangerous levels of gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as a party drug, as well as traces of cannabis, Xanax and other anti-anxiety medicines.

Medical experts told the court that the combination of alcohol and drugs caused the cardiac arrest that led to his death.

The court also revealed that Prince Abdullah had earlier received treatment for alcohol misuse and dependence on prescription drugs. He underwent detox treatment at the Priory Clinic in Roehampton before later receiving further treatment at Rainford Hall Clinic in Merseyside.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Victoria Chamorro told the court that the prince responded well to treatment and completed the detox programme without physical problems. Although he later missed follow-up appointments, doctors did not believe he was at risk of taking his own life.

According to the court, no suicide note was found, there was no sign that the prince had expressed suicidal thoughts, and there was no evidence that anyone else was involved. CCTV footage also showed he was alone during his final hours.

Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin ruled that the death was accidental and concluded that Prince Abdullah died after taking multiple drugs. The Saudi Royal Court later confirmed his death and announced that funeral prayers would be held at the VIP Imam Turki bin Abdullah Mosque in Riyadh.

Source: India Today