TRIBUTES have been paid to "the best dad" who died suddenly in a beach car park aged 29.

Lewis Hawkett-Smith died on March 31, 2025, at Bath Road South car park in Bournemouth.

A dad to his newborn son, Mr Hawkett-Smith was described by his partner, Mary McCann as a "loving father".

She said: "He was the best dad. He really, really was. He was the most kindest person going.

"Lewis did whatever he could to keep up to the best appearance he could be, the best dad he could be. Everything he could do, he did it for us.

"We had our ups and downs like everybody else, but we really were happy."

An inquest into Mr Hawkett-Smith's death was held on October 21 at Bournemouth Town Hall, led by coroner Richard Middleton.

A statement read to the inquest from the family heard that Lewis was a "funny and kind person", who would "do anything for anyone".

"When his son was born, it was a new lease of life for Lewis, he loved him so much."

At the end of 2024, Mr Hawkett-Smith had fallen from a building and suffered injuries as a result.

The inquest heard how he had been struggling to sleep because of the pain, and he had taken non prescribed medication to try and help with this, as a prescription from the GP was not helping.

On March 31, the day of his death, Mr Hawkett-Smith was found by a member of the public experiencing "regular seizures", lying in his car.

The passer-by called an ambulance at 2.55pm, and paramedics arrived at 3.01pm. On arrival, they found he had been put in the recovery position.

Mr Hawkett-Smith had gone into cardiac arrest and his condition was deemed unsurvivable. He was confirmed dead at 4.02pm.

Lewis Hawkett-Smith (Image: Family Handout)

A post mortem, conducted by Dr Albadry, found a medical cause of death to be cardiac arrest due to cocaine toxicity. The levels of cocaine in his system where "within the range of severe and acute fatal cocaine toxicity", it was heard.

Mr Middleton concluded the inquest by saying Mr Smith had died as a result of a "drugs related death".

Ms McCann said her partner had taken cocaine to help with his pain.

She said: "The awareness out there of taking too much cocaine - it should be put out.

"He wasn't a drug addict - he wasn't dependent on drugs.

"It's a tragic loss. It really really is.

"He wasn't a drug addict and I know what people are going to say. But he really was a family man. He was a loving father, and very family oriented. He was very very respected in the Traveller community."

A tribute from the family added: "Lewis you are missed everyday and will be forever. Fly high, the man, the myth, the legend.

"All our love Mum, Dad, Alex, Leila, Mary, Rihanna, Elijah and all the family xxx"