'Adored' young man dies after Liverpool car park fall
Inquest heard Josh Perry fell from nineteenth floor of Renshaw Street car park in March 2025A young man "adored by everyone who knew him" tragically lost his life after falling from a car park, an inquest has heard.On March 14, 2025, Josh Perry plummeted from the nineteenth floor of a multi-storey car park on Renshaw Street in Liverpool city centre. Despite desperate efforts to save him, he passed away at the scene. The 21-year-old's death followed a prolonged struggle with the "dissociative and hallucinogenic" drug, ketamine, reports the Liverpool Echo.Even before his birth, "everyone" was eagerly anticipating Josh's arrival. His mother Natasha Perry carried Josh for what "felt like forever," according to a statement read by his aunt Tammy at Gerard Majella Courthouse on Thursday, April 2. She said: "He was desperately longed for, from the moment he was born the whole family adored him. Josh was his mum's first born, my mum's first grandson and my first nephew."The family joked that although Natasha was his mum, he gained two bonus mums and two bonus dads. He was a wonderful baby, everyone loved being around him."When he turned three he became a big brother to Eva and they became best friends. Eva was like a big sister to Josh, she always knew what was best for her big brother. When he played rugby she'd run him a bath for afterwards and set his pyjamas out on the bed, just how he liked it."Josh loved the attention from his mum, Eva and aunties and he was the best cousin - they adored him." Natasha was consistently told "what a beautiful boy" Josh was, and he went on to claim numerous awards in rugby, later signing to play for Warrington Wolves. His family cherished watching him on the pitch, the statement continued.Tammy said: "The family have the best memories on day trips out and caravan holidays. Every year we would stay at Alton Towers and go swimming, then go on the rides - this was Josh's favourite, family time. He loved being away and being surrounded with people he loved. He had a brilliant childhood. When Josh was little he loved Christmas."Josh is fondly remembered by his family for his "brilliant sense of humour and laugh that could cheer anyone up." Tammy continued: "He always had funny stories, he had an extraordinary imagination. Josh loved giving people nicknames and was a hard worker. He achieved everything he set his mind to."Josh made his family so proud and made sure everyone around him would have a smile on their face. He lived for a good time not a long time."The day prior to his death, Josh was asked to leave the family home due to his drug use. He was the "golden child" of the family during his youth and "never in trouble," the court heard in a statement read on behalf of Natasha.At the age of 17, he began taking ketamine, which came as a devastating blow to his family. His mother described him as a "walking spaceman" who struggled to even pick up a glass in front of him. His addiction worsened and in October 2024 had a "devastating impact" on the family, causing a rift at home. Natasha would sometimes ask Josh to leave the house and stay with family or in a hotel because she was concerned about the effect his ketamine use would have on his younger sister.His addiction persisted and in November 2024 he was diagnosed with ketamine bladder, a severe, chronic condition characterised by inflammation, ulceration, and fibrosis of the bladder wall caused by the recreational misuse of ketamine. Desperately wanting to turn his life around, Josh courageously self-referred to rehab. It was a difficult journey but he remained for eight weeks and got clean.When Josh self-referred to rehab he was consuming up to 7g of ketamine a day, spending £200 on the substance. He had told mental health specialists how he felt numb and experienced fatigue. Despite this, he was discharged on Sunday, March 9, 2025; an emotional yet joyful day for the family.The day before he died, Josh's mum was driving him to a narcotics anonymous meeting, which he'd self-referred to attend. As she was driving, she grew suspicious that he'd taken the drug. The court heard how Josh sounded disassociated, like previous times when he was under the influence.Upon returning home, Natasha checked her son's bedroom and discovered residue of the Class A substance. Distraught, she packed his belongings and told him to check into a hotel. Josh booked a room at the Premier Inn near Moorfields in the city centre for two nights. On Friday, 14 March, Natasha had her final conversation with her son. She texted him warning he would end up "really ill" again if he continued with his drug use, to which he replied saying he was sorry and that he will stop. That was the last time she ever heard from her 21 year old son.Merseyside Police were contacted by a member of the public at the car park at around 6.20pm that Friday. Upon arrival, emergency services discovered Josh had suffered "significant head trauma."That evening, two police officers appeared on her ring doorbell camera. She immediately sensed something was wrong and rang Eva while her sister Sian called Josh to check both children were safe. Josh didn't answer his phone. Later that night, officers returned to her home and delivered the "devastating news about my gorgeous boy."'Loved dearly'Natasha told the court she does not believe her son intended to take his own life. The following day she visited the Premier Inn to collect his belongings. There, she discovered his iPad charging and his night clothes laid out on the bed ready for him to change into that evening, indicating he had planned to return.He had also made several arrangements and spoken about getting his life back on track. He had planned to meet a friend for coffee and had made arrangements to meet his ex-girlfriend with a view to rekindling their relationship. Coroner Helen Rimmer addressed the court, saying: "It's clear Josh is loved dearly by you all and is missed every single day," before hearing evidence from Merseyside Police and a representative for ParkBee Ltd, the owners of the Renshaw Street car park.DCI James Halpin, who led the Merseyside Police investigation into Josh's death, described how Josh appeared "unsteady on his feet" as he walked across the nineteenth floor of the car park. Following the fall, Josh was discovered to have sustained facial and internal injuries, with traces of ketamine found in his blood.The family's representative, Mr Weaver, raised concerns before the court regarding the legal building regulations governing the height of the wall within the car park. Merseyside Police determined that the height of the parapet wall met the correct minimum requirement and raised no concerns.Legal counsel for ParkBee Ltd, William Bommel, also informed the court that the height regulations for the parapet walls within the car park were in compliance with building regulations. He further advised the court that every floor features open panels to satisfy fire safety ventilation requirements.The company has additionally introduced further staff training in the wake of the incident. In her closing remarks, Coroner Helen Rimmer issued a prevention of future death report, stating that a conflict exists between regulations, guidance and standards concerning the height of car park barriers, which requires resolution in order to prevent further fatalities. The inquest established that the car park barriers did meet the legal standard to prevent falls from height.The coroner recorded a narrative conclusion, determining that it remains unclear whether Josh intended to take his own life. This was due to the impact his ketamine use had on his cognitive function, as well as the fact that he had made future plans. Ms Rimmer also noted that Josh had previously shown no indication of any suicidal ideation.
