A father-of-two died as a result of his secretive cocaine habit, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Kafizas, 34, a chef from Kimptons Mead, Potters Bar, collapsed at his home in the early hours of September 17 after taking the illegal drug.

Paramedics rushed to the scene to find Mr Kafizas lying on his bed in an almost unresponsive state.

They moved him from the bed to the floor and began performing CPR on him in an attempt to save his life but were unsuccessful.

No family were present at the hearing at Hatfield Coroner’s Court on Thursday, April 20, but a statement read out from them said Mr Kafizas had taken cocaine earlier in the evening and that it was not the first time he had suffered ill effects from using the drug.

They also said he was very secretive about his substance abuse, keeping cocaine hidden in a glasses case in his bedroom.

A police search of the property yielded no actual drugs but a credit card and a rolled up £10 note – paraphernalia fairly typical of cocaine use – were found in a bathroom cabinet.

Mr Kafizas had previously spoken to his GP about his drug use and had attended addiction meetings on a couple of occasions but on review he said he was feeling much better and had stopped taking illicit drugs.

A post-mortem examination found high levels of cocaine in Mr Kafizas’ system - well within the range of fatality.

Hertfordshire coroner Geoffrey Sullivan recorded a verdict of a drug-related death.