A man has died after taking a deworming drug intended for animals after believing it could cure cаncer, an inquest has heard.

Lee Redpath, 45, was rushed to hospital with severe liver failure after taking the antiparasitic drug fenbendazole over a three-week period. He died at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge on April 29.

Mr Redpath had ordered the drug from an online supplier in Ukraine, believing it to be safe after encountering misleading information on social media claiming fenbendazole could treat or prevent cаncer. The drug is not approved for human use and is banned for that purpose.

Fenbendazole is designed to treat gastrointestinal parasites in animals, including roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, pinworms, and giardia.

Despite this, claims promoting its use in humans have circulated online, including endorsements repeated in public interviews by high-profile figures. Actor Mel Gibson previously stated on a podcast that acquaintances had allegedly recovered from advanced c*ncer after taking fenbendazole alongside ivermectin—claims not supported by medical evidence.

At the inquest, held at Lawrence Court in Huntingdon, Mr Redpath’s long-term partner, Lauren Laul, said he believed the drug was safe because of what he had read online.

“He saw it online and thought it was safe. He believed people in America were using it,” she told the court.

“He didn’t have medical supervision while taking it, and I think there should be some sort of warning. I still see it advertised online, and people can buy it themselves like Lee did and unknowingly put their lives at risk because they don’t have all the information.”

Ms Laul also suggested Mr Redpath may have been taking the drug intermittently for up to two years before his death.

Dr Gwilym Webb, a consultant hepatologist at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, told the inquest that fenbendazole has no proven benefit for preventing or treating cаncer in humans. He also stated that Mr Redpath was not eligible for a liver transplant due to alcohol misuse in the three months prior to his admission.

However, a post-mortem examination concluded that Mr Redpath’s acute liver failure was caused by fenbendazole toxicity.

Assistant Coroner for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Caroline Jones, ruled that Mr Redpath died from liver and kidney failure caused by fenbendazole-induced liver injury, compounded by underlying alcohol-related cirrhosis.

“I was satisfied that fenbendazole had toxic effects and that it was the primary cause of the injury,” she said.

“It is a potent anti-parasitic medication that was taken at doses far higher and for much longer than ever intended.

“Mr Redpath told doctors he had purchased fenbendazole online after watching videos claiming it had anti-cаncer properties. It was considered likely that fenbendazole was the main cause of his acute liver injury.”

She added that although Mr Redpath briefly showed signs of improvement, his condition deteriorated on April 27. Multiple organ failure was identified, and he died two days later at 6:06 p.m.

“While Mr Redpath may have taken fenbendazole with the intention of improving his health, it was a deliberate act that had the unintended consequence of his death,” the coroner said.

Ms Laul requested that the coroner issue a prevention of future deaths report to address the online sale and promotion of the drug. This request was declined due to insufficient evidence, although the coroner noted concerns about the availability of the drug online.

Mr Redpath’s death was recorded as misadventure.