By Staff Reporter

Last updated at 12:54, Wednesday, 17 October 2012

A man may have lain dead in his home for about a month before he was found, an inquest heard.

Alfred Curran, 87, was found lying on the floor under a blanket after police were called to his home at The Ranch, Scaleby, near Carlisle, on March 25.

Mr Curran, a former soldier and plumber, grew up in Blackford.

He had gone to the doctor on February 10 suffering from a chest infection.

He had been due to go back to the doctor on February 24 but failed to keep his appointment.

The coroner’s court was told that this was not unusual as Mr Curran regularly missed appointments with the doctor.

David Roberts, coroner for north and west Cumbria, said: “He didn’t have any obvious close friends and no-one to visit him regularly.

“He was very sure of his own mind and what he wanted to do and what he expected of others.

“He would go to the post office to collect his mail and he would not always answer the door or the telephone.

“In his mind he knew how he wanted to lead his life. He did not suffer fools gladly. I understand he was a great letter writer.”

Mr Curran had a heart bypass operation in 1981 and in 2006 he had a pacemaker fitted.

Mr Roberts concluded that Mr Curran, who had been suffering from heart disease and pneumonia, had died on or about February 23.

He recorded a verdict that Mr Curran died of natural causes.

First published at 12:44, Wednesday, 17 October 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk