A homeless man found slumped outside a supermarket had died from a drug overdose, a court has heard.

Martyn Brian Pink, 43, was discovered outside the Tesco Extra superstore at Roneo Corner, Hornchurch, on August 29.

A post-mortem investigation has since given his cause of death as “opioid toxicity”.

Coroner Nadia Persaud opened an inquest into Mr Pink’s death at a brief hearing on Tuesday, October 29, at East London Coroner’s Court in Walthamstow.

“At approximately 6am a staff member at Tesco Extra in Hornchurch noticed a male to be sat at the rear of the building but was cycling past so did not stop to look,” coroner’s officer Jean Smyth testified.

“The same staff member returned at about eight o’clock and saw that the male was slumped over on the floor and was unresponsive.”

They “did not touch Mr Pink as he had a needle in his hand,” Mrs Smyth added. Instead, they dialled 999.

“Emergency services attended but shortly afterwards they declared that he was deceased at 9.12am.

“The police used a fingerprint device to confirm that the deceased was Martyn Brian Pink.”

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Mrs Persaud told the court: “I am satisfied on those facts that this death occurred in circumstances requiring an inquest to be opened.

“The inquest will be opened and adjourned for further investigations to take place.”

Mrs Smyth described Mr Pink as unemployed and single, telling the coroner she did not know if his family had yet been traced.

“I would like family to be located if at all possible and notified of the inquest proceedings,” said Mrs Persaud.

“I would like a background statement from them if they are able to assist.”

She also asked her staff to find out whether Mr Pink was under any drug or alcohol service and, if so, to seek records from the service.

“At present, the only interested persons are family, if they can be located,” said Mrs Persaud.

Interested persons have the right to interrogate evidence and question witnesses at the full inquest, which was scheduled for March 21.