DJ, 42, found dead at friend's home after taking range of painkillers

DJ, 42, who suffered chronic back pain from car crash and grew ‘withdrawn’ in lockdown was found dead at friend’s home after taking range of painkillers following her ‘livestream’ set online

• Lisa Helena Zarecky, 42, was found dead at friend’s house after performing a set 
• Inquest heard she regularly took pain killers after injuring her back in a car crash
• Coroner ruled her death was ‘unintended consequence’ of prescription drug use
• The well-known artist was Glastonbury Festival’s first ever female breakbeat DJ 

A star DJ who suffered chronic back pain following a car crash died just hours after performing at a ‘livestream party’ after taking a range of pain killers, an inquest heard.

Lisa Helena Zarecky, 42, was found slumped at a friend’s house after performing a the online set at the party.

An inquest heard Lisa had spent years taking pain medication after injuring her back in a car crash in 2014.

A coroner ruled that her death was the ‘unintended consequence’ of taking prescription medication and recorded a conclusion of ‘drug-related death’ at an inquest held this week. 

Lisa was well-known on the music circuit and was Glastonbury Festival’s first female breakbeat DJ.

But the inquest heard the car crash had a ‘profound impact on the rest of her life’ with Lisa regularly experienced intense pain.

Lisa Helena Zarecky was found dead at a friend’s just hours after performing a livestream DJ set. An inquest heard the coroner found a range of medications in her bloodstream

The well-known artist (pictured) was Glastonbury Festival’s first ever female breakbeat DJ

Lisa was born in Aldershot but moved around a lot in her youth – growing up in Germany, Oxford and Cyprus thanks to her father’s role in the military. 

Her family said Lisa settled in London after university and worked as a DJ regularly travelling across the UK.

But she became ‘withdrawn’ during lockdown and stopped exercising – choosing instead to spend much of her time in her bedroom.

In a statement, the family said they saw a ‘significant shift in her demeanour’.

The inquest heard she had been looking forward to performing at the ‘live-stream’ party in Swansea, South Wales, in May last year.

Her brother watched the party on the online stream and said it was ‘wonderful to see Lisa enjoying herself’.

Lisa stayed the night at the home of friend Owain Jones but the following day he found her lying on the sofa with her eyes open.

The coroner ruled her death was drug related and was an ‘unintended consequence’

South Wales Police officers rushed to the scene but Lisa was pronounced dead.

The inquest heard she was found with a range of medications near her – including codeine, paracetamol, pregabalin, diazepam, and other prescription medications.

Toxicology reports found Lisa had an enlarged liver at the time of her death along with traces of prescription drugs and methadone.

Acting senior coroner Colin Phillips recorded conclusion of a drug-related death at the inquest in Swansea.

He said: ‘She died as a result of the unintended consequences of consuming prescription medication for chronic pain’ and recorded a drug-related death..’

Following the inquest friend Charlotte Toney paid tribute to Lisa – who was Glastonbury Festival’s first female breakbeat DJ.

Charlotte said: ‘Lisa was an energetic, creative, kind and caring soul to everyone.

‘Lisa has left a hole behind that will never be filled by those that knew and loved her best but she will always be remembered as the shining light she was, no matter what.’

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