An open verdict was recorded on a shed builder who died in a room where he was staying beside his work at Poulton Portables in Maldon Road, Danbury.
David Scully, 35, had parted from his wife and was lodging in the property while awaiting a flat, his former wife Patricia Scully, told the inquest at Chelmsford on Tuesday.
He had been suffering from flu like symptoms and was cold and thin and said he would be using an old mobile gas heater in the room.
Mrs Scully said David would not have taken his own life and she felt that his death was due to breathing in fumes from the gas heater.
Dr Tony Neale said the heater was recovered from a skip badly damaged. When reassembled it was old but any escaaping fumes would only have caused a headache. He could not say if the heater was unsafe before it was reassembled.
Coroner Mrs Caroline Beasley-Murray said Mr Scully died from asphyxia due to carbon monoxide poisoning but could not say whether it was due to the old gas heater.
Coroner's Officer Derek Sewell said Mr Scully had mental health problems, liked a drink and smoked 30 cigarettes a day.
A colleague found him dead in bed after breaking into his room when he did not turn up for work. There was minimal alcohol in his blood but the carbon monoxide was 70%. The fatal level is 50%.
Published Wednesday, June 4, 2003
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article