Drug overdose suspected in young man's death

The police suspect that the young man who died in Valletta four days ago was the victim of a drug overdose after fluids were found in his lungs during an autopsy.

Gerald Mallia, 25, was found in his Mazda 626 in St Frederick Street following an anonymous report to the police at about 5.15 a.m. Known as Jerry, Mr Mallia died shortly afterwards in hospital.

Pulmonary oedema is one of the symptoms of an overdose, caused by the malfunctioning of the heart and the circulatory system, and associated with the customary frothing at the mouth.

It is understood that toxicology tests, which closely examine body fluids for any foreign substances, are being carried out to confirm the cause of death.

If the overdose is confirmed, it would be the second one this year, following that of Kelly Micallef, 26, who was found dead in her bed in Is-Sebuqa Street, San Ġwann.