A young homeless man was found dead by shocked staff outside a Marks and Spencer store after sleeping out in the freezing cold.
John Scott Wrench, 25, from Wigan, was found dead outside the store in Manchester City Centre February 1, according to Manchester Evening News.
An inquest at the coroners' court today heard that Mr Wrench was discovered by Marks and Spencer staff, who were "unable to rouse him" so they called the police.
Mr Wrench was pronounced dead at the scene and was later identified by his fingerprints.
On the night of his death temperatures in Manchester were forecast to drop as low as -3 degrees.
Following Mr Wrench's death a shrine of flowers, candles and tributes has been placed on the spot where he died.
Mr Wrench suffered from epilepsy and was addicted to Spice, a dangerous drug that is a mixture of herbs and laboratory chemicals. sometimes called synthetic marijuana.
Senior coroner Nigel Meadows said a postmortem examination and toxicology report had been carried out, the results of which would be heard at the full inquest, which could be held in the next few weeks.
When Mr Wrench died in February, Jim Hutton from Mad Dogs Homeless Project said he had seen him the previous night.
He said: "I saw him on the Sunday night and gave him some sausage and mash.
"When I heard he was gone I couldn't believe it. His family are devastated."
He continued: "John and his siblings didn't have a great start in life and were brought up in what we would now term 'extreme poverty'.
"It was caused in the main by a parent suffering severe mental health problems which impacted the family and as a result they were deprived of a lifestyle and upbringing many of us take for granted.
"The family lost mum just over two years ago and this has played a part in causing John to go off the rails."
After Mr Wrench's death. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said council staff had regularly tried to help him with support and accommodation but Mr Wrench felt unable to accept it.
He added: "The sad and untimely death of John Wrench, and the circumstances surrounding it, are so sad and distressing.
"In this day and age, no one should be forced to sleep on the streets nor ever be forced to spend their final hours there."
