Artist Sebastian Horsley died from overdose, says coroner

An artist who once crucified himself died of a massive heroin and cocaine overdose after celebrating the opening night of his autobiographical play, an inquest heard.

Sebastian Horsley, 47, who modelled himself on Lord Byron and Oscar Wilde, was found curled up naked on the living-room floor of his Soho flat following the after-party of the opening performance.

The wealthy son of a millionaire family was a well-known figure in Soho, where he paraded in top hats and extravagant clothes, but suffered from compulsive disorder and drug addiction.

He shot to fame in 2000 after he crucified himself for "art" in the Philippines.

He was discovered by his girlfriend, make-up artist Rachel Garley, on June 17 after she became concerned when she hadn't heard from him in more than 24 hours.

He had died of an overdose and was "the author of his own misfortune", Westminster coroner's court heard.

Coroner Paul Knapman said: "There was no sign of any natural diseases and analysis of the blood showed levels of cocaine and morphine at very high amounts. That, in the opinion of the pathologist, is the cause of death — multiple drug ingestion. He died of non-dependent abuse of drugs."