A STUDENT died from inhaling laughing gas after becoming so damaged by heavy use of the substance that he could no longer walk downstairs, a court heard.

Aaron Dunford, 22, inhaled nitrous oxide regularly and suffered from chronic nerve pain due to vitamin deficiency caused by the gas, an inquest into his death heard.

The University of Brighton student was found dead at his home in Roundhill Crescent, Brighton, on March 2.

Two hundred canisters of the substance were found by police in his room after he died, an inquest at Brighton Coroner’s Court heard on Monday.

Police are warning people to steer clear of the gas, which when inhaled gives feelings of light-headedness and euphoria.

Detective Inspector Mick Jones, who oversaw the investigation into Mr Dunford’s death on behalf of the coroner, said: “Anyone considering using this substance in this way should think again.

“The effect of asphyxia through inhalation could happen on the first occasion it is used or after repeated use.

“This tragic case has highlighted that even when it does not result in a fatality that there are longer term effects on your health.

“Despite the deceased being a young man, he was unable to walk down a simple flight of steps due to the chronic pain he had in his knees, which was a direct result of using nitrous oxide gas.”

The inquest recorded a verdict of misadventure by asphyxiation, inhalation of nitrous oxide, and chronic nerve pain likely due to B12 deficiency caused by chronic use of nitrous oxide gas.

Mr Dunford was originally from the Isle of Wight.

Police warn that nitrous oxide is becoming more and more popular to use as a way of achieving a short-term high.

Sometimes known as “hippy crack”, the gas is not illegal to possess but can be very dangerous to inhale, not least because it pushes oxygen out of the lungs.

Nitrous oxide was to blame for 17 deaths in the UK between 2006 and 2012, according to research from the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton.