Inquest Hears That Painter’s Assistant Died After Consuming Toilet Cleaner

An inquest into the death of painter David Hockney’s assistant heard that it was caused after he consumed a toilet cleaner when Hockney was asleep. Dominic Kent Elliott, 23, died in March at Hockney’s seaside home in ¬Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Elliot and his lover John Fitzherbert, who was formerly Hockney’s partner for 24 years, had been drinking and taking drugs before collapsing into bed together while Hockney, 76, slept in the other room.

The inquest heard that Elliot was under the influence of cocaine, ecstasy and temazepam when he drank the toilet cleaner and though he was rushed to the hospital by Fitzherbert, he died due to acute peritonitis caused by sulphuric acid.

Speaking at the inquest, Fitzherbert said that he and Elliot were smoking cannabis when he fell asleep and was later woken by Elliot who had been sick. “Dominic got up and ran towards the door, laughing hysterically, and threw himself off the landing. It was a 10-foot drop but he got up. He was still laughing and seemed okay. He then got back into bed and we smoked some more cannabis. I fell asleep in his arms. Dominic had been sick. I helped him clean up then took him to Scarborough hospital. About 20 minutes into the journey, he slouched forward and started grunting and groaning”, he said.

Source-Medindia