AFTER years of depression and alcoholism, a man hanged himself with electrical wiring from rafters in his attic, an inquest was told.

David Lowe, a 42-year-old former merchant navy marine engineer, from St Richards Road, Deal, was discovered dead by his wife Penelope Lowe on August 3.

The couple had been living at separate addresses. Mrs Lowe, from Mayers Road, Walmer, said her husband had often spoken of taking his life, including on the morning of August 2.

The inquest at Sandwich heard how he had made previous suicide attempts with drug overdoses and had a long history of alcoholism.

His medical records showed he was drinking 140 units of alcohol a week earlier this year and had been in contact with mental health services since 1975.

“He focused on frightening problems,” said Mrs Lowe. “He felt the Deal mental health team were failing him and had cancelled an appointment on August 2.”

Mrs Lowe spoke to her husband on the telephone the night before she found him dead.

“We were making plans for the next day,” she said. “He was very calm, unusually so for him. I should have seen the signs but I didn’t.”

East Kent coroner Rebecca Cobb said she was convinced there was no evidence of third party involvement and that death had been the intended outcome. She recorded a verdict of suicide.