Published at 11:10, Thursday, 21 June 2012

A WHITEHAVEN man who suffered from paranoia schizophrenia was found dead at his home by his carer on New Year’s Day.

William Longcake, 57, of Mirehouse Road, also suffered from epilepsy and a heart condition.

A post mortem revealed Mr Longcake had an “excessive quantity’’ of an anti-psychotic drug in his system and there was evidence of tongue biting which was “probably’’ due to an epileptic event.

West Cumbria coroner, David Roberts, recorded a verdict of accidental death. “There is a possibility he may have been mixed up about his tablets,’’ Mr Roberts said.

The inquest heard Mr Longcake had been diagnosed with mental illness as a young man. He never married and lived with his parents until they both died. For a time, he worked as a process worker at the town’s Marchon factory.

John Longcake, Mr Longcake’s brother, said his death had come as a “complete surprise’’ to the family.

“I rang to wish him a Happy New Year but didn’t get an answer,’’ Mr Longcake said. “I thought he was still in bed.’’

Only minutes earlier, his brother had been discovered in the doorway of his bedroom by his carer, Jennifer Finnegan, who had visited the house at 11am on January 1 this year.

Talking about his brother, John Longcake said: “He was a good lad, there was no bad in him at all.’’

Mr Longcake said his brother had been supported and looked after by his four sisters after their mother died two years ago. In particularly, his eldest sister would visit him daily.

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk