Ecstasy link suspected in man's death

Michael Curtis, 27, died in hospital an hour after two police officers found him unconscious outside Monty's nightclub, in Front Street, Stanley, County Durham, shortly before 1am on Saturday.

He was breathing and was placed in the recovery position while an ambulance was called.

When it was noticed that his pulse had stopped the officers began heart massage, which was maintained on the arrival of paramedics.

Despite their continued efforts in the ambulance, on the way to the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. A post-mortem examination by Home Office pathologist Dr Mark Egan confirmed his death was caused by congestive heart failure.

Samples have been sent for analysis at the Home Office forensic science laboratories, in Wetherby, West Yorkshire.

Detective Chief Inspector Ron Vine, of Consett police, said while the death of Mr Curtis was not being treated as suspicious, it was believed he may have taken drugs, thought to be Ecstasy, at some stage on Friday.

"Our inquiries have established he had been socialising in the Stanley area during the evening, and at about 9pm he went to the nightclub where he continued drinking, and at one stage he was seen dancing."

Det Chief Insp Vine said the circumstances in which Mr Curtis came to be found, and how he came to be in possession of drugs, were being investigated.

Mr Curtis, a bachelor, lived with his father, Tommy, in an end terraced house in Catchgate, near Stanley.

Members of his family were struggling to come to terms with his death and the possible drugs connection last night.

A woman, who refused to give her name, said: "Michael was a very special person, and we are struggling to take in the fact he has gone.

"He was not a drug user and I just don't believe he took ecstasy. It doesn't fit with the Michael I know and love."

She said that she had heard rumours he had taken the drug.