A MAN in the depths of depression took a massive cocktail of drugs and alcohol, an inquest was told.

George Paterson, 49, was in financial difficulty, had received a repossession order on his house and had just been sent divorce papers.

He was found lying on a bedroom floor at his daughter's home, an empty vodka bottle and packets of tablets nearby.

Tests showed he had taken a lethal dose of painkillers and had a blood alcohol content of 301mg - more than three times the legal limit for motorists.

He left a note apologising but saying he could not go on any longer, the inquest was told.

A suicide verdict was recorded on Mr Paterson, of Park Road, Widnes, who was found dead on February 28

His daughter Lynne told the inquest her father had suffered a fall in November and started taking painkillers.

Because of his various problems, he was staying in most of the time and had come to stay with her.

On the night before his death, he came in having apparently been drinking.

But he said he was not drunk but just "merry".

He went to bed and she assumed he was drunk and would sleep it off.

When he did not get up the following morning, she went to the bedroom and found him lying on the floor.

He left two notes - one addressed to her and one to his solicitor.

Cororner John Hibbert said death was due to Mr Paterson choking due to alcoholic intoxication and a drugs overdose.

But the drugs overdose alone would have been enough to kill him.

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