A PHOTOSHOP manager was found dead on the floor of his garage by his son, Warrington Coroners' Court heard on Wednesday.

A post mortem examination later revealed that Graham Meakin, aged 50, of Newfield Court, Lymm, had died of carbon monoxide poisoning, but also found that there was alcohol in his bloodstream which could have been a contributory factor in his death.

Mr Meakin's son, Paul, told the inquest that his father had been having money worries with his business and was suffering from a painful back condition.

"He was depressed," Paul added, "and he could not see a way forward from his problems.

"He had talked about changing his will and it did cross my mind that he might do something."

Paul found his father at 6.30am in the morning. He went outside to his car and noticed that the garage lights were switched on. When he opened the door, he found his father on the garage floor.

Cheshire coroner John Hibbert recorded an open verdict as he said he did not feel beyond all reasonable doubt that Mr Meakin had tried to take his own life because he was not in the car when he died and there was no pipe attached to the car exhaust.

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