Stuart Foster was a heavy drinker who often fell asleep when he was drunk and often socialised with workmates off-duty, a fatal accident inquiry heard yesterday.

The 27-year-old drank the equivalent of 17 pints of beer after a shift at the Cavendish nightclub in Tollcross in June 2004. The inquiry heard from Professor David Harrison, the pathologist who carried out the post-mortem examination. He said he died from "aspiration of gastric contents and acute alcohol consumption".

Prof Harrison said: "Certainly, medical attention would have been the ideal thing to do and in general those who are treated do survive."

Mr Foster's supervisor, 28-year-old David Pennycook, from Edinburgh, admitted he wasn't alarmed the night that Foster passed out because had seen him fall asleep in the pub before.

The inquiry heard Mr Pennycook regretted not calling an ambulance after Mr Foster passed out in the bar when his shift ended. Instead, he was bundled into a car by co-workers and left outside his friend's flat when she was unable to rouse him. He was found dead later that morning by bar supervisor Rachel Simnett on June 11th, 2004.

The inquiry continues.