Dean Wharmby died as a ‘direct cause’ of taking steroids, hears inquest

Dean Wharmby and Charlotte Rigby

The inquest of Dean Wharmby, a popular bodybuilder from Rochdale, has heard that he died as a ‘direct cause’ of taking steroids.

Coroner Lisa Hashmi ruled that Dean’s "misuse" of anabolic steroids caused his death from liver cancer on 19 July 2015.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/97187/dean-wharmby-dies-after-battle-with-liver-cancer

The inquest heard that Dean, 39, first developed health problems in 2010 when multiple tumours were found in his liver.

He had been taking steroids for several years and was diagnosed with cancer in November 2014, but the drugs were cited as the ‘direct cause’ of his death by Mrs Hashmi.

Dean’s partner Charlotte Rigby, who he met eight years ago, told the inquest that she had suspicions he used steroids because of his muscular build, but stressed that when they got together in 2010, he was trying to stop taking them.

After Dean developed health problems, it is understood that he stopped taking steroids and embraced spiritual healing methods such as reiki and natural medicine. Towards the end of his life, Dean was taking up to 200 natural remedy tablets a day.

The couple chronicled Dean’s battle with cancer on social media, called Dean’s journey, which attracted more than 16,000 followers.

He would use the social media page to upload videos detailing his positivity through the experience and posted about his unique approach to fighting the disease by using natural medicine, taking vitamins and adopting a strict diet which involved cutting out meat and sugar.

In July, Dean was moved to Springhill Hospice, where he later died.

The inquest found that two falls he suffered at the Hospice had no bearing on his death and both Charlotte, and Dean’s father, John Wharmby, paid tribute to the ‘excellent care’ he received at the Hospice.

Mrs Hashmi warned of the risk of taking steroids when delivering her verdict.