Man found dead in Eastbourne seafront hotel

Joshua Michael David Reid had been living in the Strand Hotel in Royal Parade following the government’s Everyone In policy to get rough sleepers off the streets during the early days of the pandemic.

But his body was found on June 16 and an inquest into his death was held on Thursday (January 7).

The inquest heard Mr Reid was originally from Crowborough and that he had been sleeping rough in the area and also in Hailsham.

As part of the Rough Sleeper Initiative though, Mr Reid was placed in the Strand Hotel and registered with the Seaside Medical Centre.

He had a history of anxiety and drug abuse and had been liaising with agencies to help with his addictions.

Police were called to the hotel on the day of Mr Reid’s death and said they were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances or third party involved.

A post mortem revealed he had died from drug toxicity following an unintentional overdose of prescribed drugs and drugs bought on the street.

East Sussex coroner James Healy Pratt said, “This young man had been suffering from substance addiction for some time.

“Despite some treatment, a combination of prescription and illicit medication was consumed which caused fatal toxicity.

“The appropriate conclusion is that Joshua suffered a drug related death.”