A MAN was taken to hospital after he collapsed at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich due to a suspected drugs overdose.The 30-year-old, who has not been named, was found slumped in the men's toilets at the Elm Street courthouse just before 1 pm yesterday.

By Amanda Cresswell

A MAN was taken to hospital after he collapsed at South East Suffolk Magistrates' Court in Ipswich due to a suspected drugs overdose.

The 30-year-old, who has not been named, was found slumped in the men's toilets at the Elm Street courthouse just before 1 pm yesterday.

He was found unconscious but breathing after he was thought to have overdosed. A defendant spotted him in toilets and tried to revive him and an ambulance was called.

Paramedics arrived in under ten minutes and the man was taken to Ipswich Hospital, where a spokewoman said today that he had been treated and then sent home.

Solicitor Neil Saunders, 45, who telephoned the ambulance, said: "I thought at the time he was in a life threatening situation. The fellow was turning bluey purple and had considerable difficulty breathing.

"I thought it was probably drugs overdose. I think I saw a syringe in the toilets. I did wonder if he was going to pull through. The ambulance arrived very quickly."