A BASINGSTOKE man, 54,  who was found dead at his home last October may have died of cardiac arrest, an inquest heard.

David Graham Bainbridge, described as a "friendly and great neighbour", was found dead at his home on Normanton Road in Basingstoke on October 8, 2020.

But an inquest at the Winchester Coroner’s Court on Thursday heard that he might have died perhaps three or four days earlier.

The inquest heard that David suffered multiple heart problems, and a sudden cardiac arrest might have led to his death.

David was living alone in his house in Basingstoke and was working from home. He last spoke over phone to his parents in Scotland on October 4, 2020 [Sunday], four days before he was found dead.

The coroner said: “The date formally recognised on the death certificate is October 8, the day he was found. My belief, however, although I cannot say this with great detail, is that it is more likely than not that he died perhaps three or four days earlier, and even as early as the night when his parents had last spoken to him on phone.”

"His property was locked and secured. All evidence suggests that he was alone at the property. He simply went to bed on an evening, either Sunday or Monday, and died potentially in his sleep.

“All suspicious circumstances are ruled out. This would appear as an unexpected death, but not one that requires a further enquiry.”

David was working at Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

His neighbour James has given a statement that described David as “friendly and a really nice guy who was a great neighbour”. David had been living at the property for 15 years.

“About six months before he passed, David started working home, and at the same time he started losing weight. He looked rough, but he said he had Covid test, and he was cleared.

“On the day David passed a roofer had come round his property to quote for some repairs. He was standing outside and told me he could not get hold of him.

“I started to get worried. Alex [another neighbour] and I started looking and banging on the bedroom window with sticks to try to get his attention.

“His car was at the front of the property, and we were sure he was inside the property.”

Police also arrived at the property soon. They broke open the door, only to find David lying on his bed with his back facing the roof.

There were no obvious marks or any injuries on his body.

A laptop kept on top of several boxes of medication was dead. Most of the medications were for heart ailments.

A search of his internet history found that his last online activity was in the night of October 3, 2020 (Saturday).

Police also found that there was an apparent water leak on the hallway upstairs. There were bath towels on stairs, and there was a bucket containing water. A part of the ceiling was missing above.

David’s parents confirmed that they last spoke to him October 4, Sunday.

His mum told the inquest: “I spoke to him at around lunch time [on Sunday], and my husband spoke to him later in the evening.

“He was stressed about the ceiling. He had tried to get a roofer all day Saturday and Sunday.

“We were told the roofer completed the work on Wednesday [the day before David was found dead].

The coroner said the roofer might have gone to David’s property because he couldn’t meet him the previous day.

“What we don’t know is if the roofer has seen or spoken to David on Wednesday. It is possible he has come round and finished the work without seeing David.”

Information from David’s GP surgery, Bermuda and Marlowe Practice on Shakespeare Rd, confirmed that he had a history of serious heart disease and left ventricle dysfunction. He had high blood pressure.

He was known to the cardiologist and the heart failure team.