Fanel Nechita, 39, of Peacock Close, Dagenham, was found dead in his bed on the morning of May 7 last year.
He was cold to the touch and rigor mortis had already set in, suggesting he had died hours earlier.
A coroner ruled his death alcohol-related at an inquest on Tuesday (April 8).
Seven family members, including two sisters and a brother, attended the hearing at East London Coroner’s Court, Walthamstow.
Senior coroner Graeme Irvine told them: “The reason this case has taken so long to reach an inquest is because a number of different pathology tests needed to be undertaken to try to understand why it was a man so young passed away in such circumstances.”
An ambulance was called to the family home just after 8am. Relatives told paramedics Mr Nechita had no known health problems.
“The family were very helpful to the ambulance service,” said Mr Irvine. “They were very honest and said that Mr Nechita had been drinking quite heavily the night before. It was a special time of year. He was celebrating Easter.”
Pathologist Dr Vasi Sundaresan ordered toxicology tests, which found Mr Nechita’s blood-alcohol level was twice the drink-drive limit and the concentration in fluid from his eyeball was even greater.
At first inspection, Dr Sundaresan thought Mr Nechita had pneumonia, but when he analysed his lungs under a microscope he realised he had vomited in his sleep and inhaled it.
His cause of death was given as acute respiratory failure, caused by aspiration of stomach contents, caused by alcohol toxicity.
“It seems to me that this was a tragic set of circumstances,” said Mr Irvine.
“It is entirely possible that this would not have happened if Mr Nechita had not been under the effects of alcohol.
“Had he been sober, he probably would have realised what was happening and he would have got out of bed to clear his throat.”
He told the family: “Can I offer my sincere condolences to you all? Usually I don’t have to deal with the deaths of young people and I’m very sorry for your loss.”
