A MAN who was found hanged at his home in South Tyneside may not have intended to kill himself, a coroner ruled.
John Andrew Adams, 37, was found at his home in The Willows, Jarrow, on June 24 – two days after he had phoned his father, also called John, to say it was the last time he would hear his voice.
At an inquest at Hebburn, South Tyneside coroner Terence Carney said that Mr Adams may not have meant to kill himself.
The hearing heard that Mr Adams was three times over the drink-driving limit when he died, and that he had traces of tramadol in his system.
He was last seen alive on Friday, June 22, when he finished his job as a pallet maker in North Shields at noon, and went for a drink with friend and work colleague, Kevin McShane.
Mr McShane, who worked with Mr Adams for eight years, said: “He said that he might pop in at my house the next day. He didn’t, but I didn’t think anything of it.
“We had plans to go shopping on the Sunday, and he’s normally here by 9am.
“I was concerned when he didn’t turn up then and, when I still hadn’t heard from him after dinner, I rang his brother, Colin, because I knew he had a key.”
Police officers found Mr Adams when they went inside. There was no suicide note.
Mr Adams’s father told the inquest about a phone call his son made to him two days earlier.
He said that his son phoned him to pass on his love, and say it was the last time he would hear his voice, but that he had made such calls on a number of occasions and nothing had ever come of them.
Pathologist Dr Kirsten Hope said the cause of death was cardiac arrest due to pressure on the neck.
Mr Adams had no recorded history of mental health, although his family said that he suffered a paranoid episode some years ago when he was taking drugs like cocaine and speed.
Mr Carney said that, due to the amount of alcohol in Mr Adams’ system and the fact that he did not leave a note, he may not have meant to commit suicide.
n Verdict: Misadventure
Twitter: @shieldsgazvicki