Firefighter, 44, died due to cocaine after day out drinking with colleagues

A firefighter died after taking cocaine at home following an afternoon drinking with colleagues in Manchester, an inquest has heard.

Francois Childs, known to colleagues as Frankie, passed away aged 44 at his home in Prestwich on September 3. He served at Broughton Community Fire Station where he was based since joining Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) in 2018.

An inquest into his death, opened at Rochdale Coroners Court today (October 21), heard that he body of Mr Childs, who was born in Nigeria, was formally identified by a colleague who he had known for six years. According to police coroners' officer Berndatte Hatton, he returned to his home at Bannerman Avenue on September 2 after spending the afternoon drinking with colleagues in Manchester.

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Ms Hatton told the coroners' court that Mr Childs had taken some cocaine 'in the presence of his wife' before going to bed that night. After being woken up in the middle of the night, Mr Child's wife Sarah noticed that he had gone 'rigid' and an ambulance was called.

He was pronounced dead on September 3. Ms Hatton said: "The cause of death was given as cocaine associated toxicity."

Assistant coroner Michael Salt adjourned the inquest with a date for a further hearing to be decided. Mr Childs, who was a former Army reservist and served with the machine gun platoon of the Bury Fusiliers before becoming a firefighter after a career in banking.

As well as his wife Sarah, he left behind two children, his parents and three brothers. An online book of condolence for Mr Childs was opened by GMFRS last month with people asked to submit their name and any message they would like to share to remember him.

At the time, Sarah Nattrass, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and Director of Service Delivery at GMFRS, said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of one of our colleagues and share our heartfelt condolences with Frankie’s family, friends and colleagues. Frankie was part of our GMFRS family for more than six years as a much-loved member of Green Watch, Broughton, and he will be very sadly missed by all his friends and colleagues."

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) also paid tribute to Frankie, who supported a Care 4 Calais Charity trip to France in November 2023. An FBU spokesperson said: "Frankie was one of 12 FBU members who volunteered their time to travel to France to support the Care 4 Calais Charity in November of 2023.

"Care 4 Calais supports the thousands of refugees and people seeking asylum across the UK and northern France. They offer their time to collect and distribute essential items and provide social support, and to help in many other different ways, from replying to messages, to fundraising and admin.

"The charity could not provide this support without dedicated and caring people like Frankie. His support will not be forgotten by the FBU or by the many people his efforts undoubtedly helped contributed to making refugees lives better."