Josh Perry, 21, died after falling from a Liverpool city centre car park
04:00, 03 Apr 2026Updated 10:09, 03 Apr 2026
Josh Perry pictured with his mum, Natasha and his sister Eva
A grieving mum has described ketamine as “evil” after her son died following a fall from a Liverpool city centre car park. Natasha Perry said her 21-year-old son Josh would “still be here today” if it were not for the drug, as she spoke out after an inquest into his death.
Josh Perry fell from the nineteenth floor of a multi-storey car park on Renshaw Street on March 14, 2025. Despite attempts to save him, he died at the scene. His death followed a prolonged struggle with the “dissociative and hallucinogenic” drug ketamine.
In a statement, Natasha said: “There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t miss my wonderful, caring and kind son. Josh lit up a room with his smile and wicked sense of humour and he is desperately missed by his family. Our lives have been destroyed by his death, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
“Josh would never have taken his own life and he would still be here today if it wasn’t for the evil drug that is ketamine. I want people to realise that there is an epidemic of this drug and 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.
“I’m also angry that Josh was able to go into a multi storey car park while intoxicated and climb the small railing on the nineteenth floor. It is outrageous and safety measures need to be brought in to prevent further tragedies.”
Josh Perry was described as a “funny” and “loved” young man(Image: Facebook)
The inquest heard Josh was a young man “adored by everyone who knew him”, who had been “desperately longed for” before his birth and grew up surrounded by a close-knit family.
A talented rugby player, he won multiple awards and later signed for Warrington Wolves, with his family describing how proud they were of his achievements.
He was remembered for his “brilliant sense of humour” and vivid imagination, often making those around him laugh.
However, the court heard his life took a difficult turn when he began using ketamine at the age of 17, something that came as a shock to his family. His mother described the impact of the drug as devastating, saying it left him like a “walking spaceman”.
His addiction worsened over time, causing strain within the family home, and in November 2024 he was diagnosed with ketamine bladder, a serious condition linked to prolonged misuse of the drug.
Despite this, Josh made efforts to turn his life around, self-referring to rehabilitation and completing an eight-week programme. His family had been hopeful for the future following his discharge just days before his death.
Tributes to Josh Perry left at the scene
The court heard that in the days leading up to the incident there were concerns he had relapsed. On March 14, emergency services were called to the car park at around 6.20pm, where Josh was found with severe head injuries.
Detective Chief Inspector James Halpin told the inquest Josh appeared “unsteady on his feet” before the fall, and toxicology results later confirmed ketamine in his system.
Natasha told the court she does not believe her son intended to take his own life. She said he had made plans for the future and talked about getting his life back on track. He had arranged to meet a friend for coffee and set plans in place to meet up with his ex-girlfriend to get things back on track.
Josh with his mum, Natasha, and his sister Eva
Elaine Macdonald, a solicitor from Broudie Jackson Canter representing the family, said serious questions remain about the safety of the car park.
She said: “Josh’s sudden death has left my clients desperately seeking answers about how he could have been allowed to fall from the nineteenth floor of a multi-storey car park to his death. There are clear concerns that the railing protection is insufficient and the fact that there was a further fall from the same building after Josh’s death is extremely worrying.
“Action needs to be taken to prevent further deaths or serious injury and we are pleased that the coroner has said that she will issue a Prevention of Future Deaths report to ensure that there is further consideration of this issue.”
The inquest also examined safety measures at the car park, with investigators finding the barrier height met current legal requirements. However, Coroner Helen Rimmer identified inconsistencies in guidance and confirmed a Prevention of Future Deaths report will be issued.
Recording a narrative conclusion, the coroner said it was unclear whether Josh intended to take his own life, noting his ketamine use may have impacted his cognitive function while he had also been making plans for the future and had not previously expressed suicidal thoughts.