A devastated mother has described ketamine as an 'evil drug infecting our children' after an inquest into her son's horrific death in a fall from a car park.

Promising rugby player Josh Perry – described as 'wonderful, caring and kind' – died in March last year, four years after becoming addicted to the Class B drug.

The 21–year–old's mother, Natasha Perry, highlighted the widespread availability of ketamine, known as 'Special K'.

At an inquest into her son's death, she said: 'Josh would never have taken his own life, and he would still be here today if it were not for the evil drug that is ketamine. I want people to realise that there is an epidemic of this drug, and that it is infecting our children because it is too freely available.

'Something needs to be done to prevent more families from suffering the heartache we are being forced to endure.'

The inquest heard that Josh, a bank worker, was a talented rugby league player at youth level for Warrington Wolves and Widnes Vikings.

He died on March 14 last year after falling from the 19th floor of a car park in Liverpool. The inquest, held earlier this month, heard paramedics found Josh, from Bootle, Merseyside, on the ground between parked vehicles. Although attempts were made to resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead.

Mrs Perry also criticised 'inadequate' railings at the car park, which he was able to climb over before falling to his death, although the inquest heard they met 'legal requirements'.

Helen Rimmer, area coroner for Liverpool, heard Josh had never expressed prior suicidal thoughts, so could not be satisfied he intended to take his own life.

Analysis found he had consumed ketamine prior to his death 'consistent with moderate to excessive use'. Effects include drowsiness, intense hallucinations, and unsteadiness. 

Originally used as a horse tranquilliser and occasionally used in the NHS as an anaesthetic and to treat depression, ketamine is one of the fastest growing drugs in the UK. According to the Office for National Statistics, five per cent of 16– to 24–year–olds admitted trying it in 2023 and its use has more than doubled in the past year.

Mrs Perry said her family's lives had been 'destroyed' by Josh's death, with her son described as 'adored' and 'desperately missed'.

She said she was always told 'what a beautiful boy' Josh was and told how he went on to win many awards in rugby. 

He was the 'golden child' of the family when he was young and 'never in trouble'. But when he started taking ketamine – which came as a 'shock to the family' – Mrs Perry likened him to a 'walking spaceman' who had difficulty even picking up a glass.

Mrs Perry said she would sometimes ask her son to leave the house and stay elsewhere as she was worried about the impact his ketamine use would have on his younger sister. 

In November 2024 he was diagnosed with ketamine bladder, a chronic inflammation condition. Josh, who used up to 7g of ketamine a day at a cost of £200, self–referred to rehabilitation, the inquest heard, staying for eight weeks and getting 'clean'.

He was discharged on March 9, 2025, but just four days later, Mrs Perry told how she was taking him to a Narcotics Anonymous meeting and became suspicious he had relapsed.

She said he sounded dissociated, like previous times when he was under the influence. Mrs Perry later checked her son's bedroom and found residue of the drug. She packed his belongings and Josh booked into a Premier Inn in Liverpool city centre.

On the day of his death, Mrs Perry had a final exchange of texts with her son, warning him he would end up 'really ill' again if he carried on with his drug use.

He replied, saying he was sorry and vowing to stop.

Mrs Perry did not believe Josh intended to take his own life because he had made plans for his future, including meeting his ex–girlfriend and another friend for coffee, and had talked about getting his life back on track.

Ms Rimmer said: 'Having consumed ketamine, which more likely than not influenced Joshua's cognitive functioning, it cannot be established that he intended to take his own life.'

She recorded a narrative conclusion that Josh died of multiple injuries after a fall and issued a 'prevention of future death' report, calling for work to resolve a 'conflict between regulations, guidance and standards' regarding car park parapets.

William Bommel, lawyer for car park owner ParkBee, said the fittings inside the Liverpool car park met building regulations.