A SWINDON man died after he overdosed on prescription medication, an inquest heard.

Paul Smith, 51, of Church Place, in the Railway Village, was found dead in his living room by brother Alan on October 15, 2007, Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner David Ridley said.

Speaking at an inquest at the Civic Offices yesterday Mr Ridley said Paul, who was also known as David, suffered from depression after the loss of his adopted mother Winifred Smith in May 2006.

He said Mr Smith had already made an attempt to take his own life and had left a suicide note at the beginning of 2007.

Mr Smith suffered from abdominal pains, was diagnosed with diabetes and became insulin dependent, said Mr Ridley.

He also suffered with bad circulation, had problems with his feet and a number of infections, the coroner added.

Mr Ridley said by the year 2000 Mr Smith was found to have epilepsy, followed by angina and he then caught an MRSA infection.

In a statement read out in court his brother Alan, who checked on Mr Smith at his home every day, said he was a troubled man.

“He didn’t have the will to live as his heath deteriorated,” he said.

Mr Ridley said Mr Smith suffered with low confidence and low self-esteem.

Staff nurse Lorne Salisbury said in a statement he was a very ill man who had become isolated at home.

Consultant pathologist Dr Darko Lazic, from the Great Western Hospital, said Mr Smith died of hypoglycaemia, which is produced by a lower than normal level of blood glucose.

His statement said the hypoglycaemia was caused by an insulin overdose with a contributory factor of morphine toxicity.

It was found Mr Smith had 0.1mm of blood glucose in his body, when normal glucose levels should be between 3.4 to 6mm.

PC John Brixey, stationed at Gablecross Police Station, said he was satisfied there was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances in Mr Smith’s death.

Mr Brixey said a suicide note was left near Mr Smith’s body, although this was not read out in court.

Mr Ridley said: “Notes were left on a previous attempt using a similar method.

“He intended to take his own life and he voluntarily injected himself with an overdose of insulin.

“My verdict is that Mr Smith took his own life.”