Nick Cave’s son had taken the hallucinogenic drug LSD hours before he fell to his death from a cliff in Brighton, an inquest has heard.
Arthur Cave was found lying on the side of the underpass of Ovingdean Gap in East Sussex on 14 July.
The 15-year-old was spotted “staggering” and “zig-zagging” by motorists at the top of the hill before he fell, the inquest at Woodvale Crematorium in Brighton heard.
Witnesses tried to resuscitate him at the scene after he was found on the pavement. He was taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital but died later that evening.
Cave, an Australian singer, and his wife Susie left the hearing as his injuries were described in graphic detail from a post-mortem examination report.
During the evidence of pathologist Dr Simi George, Brighton's senior coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley asked: “The history you had was that LSD was used?”
Dr George replied: “Yes.“
The cause of death was listed as “multiple traumatic injuries due to a fall from a height”.
Sussex Police said there is not currently an investigation underway into how Arthur came to have LSD in his system.
A spokesperson told The Independent: “We will review the result of the coroner's inquest to assess if there is any further action required by police.”
Additional reporting by PA
