A FATHER-OF-TWO found dead in his Andover home last year died of chronic alcoholism, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Fyfe was found by police in September 2019 as officers completed a welfare check on the 40-year-old.

The chartered accountant had been “struggling with a number of significant issues in his life” and had “turned to alcohol to try to numb the pain,” senior coroner Christopher Wilkinson said during a hearing this week.

He had a history of attempts to end his own life, including two overdoses in the space of a month shortly before his passing. And although he was able to make improvements in his life in the weeks leading up to his death, he died suddenly in his Stirrup Way flat before being found by officers on Friday, September 13.

An exact time and date of death could not be confirmed as his body was in an advanced state of decomposition.

Mr Wilkinson concluded that Mr Fyfe died of natural causes as a result of chronic alcoholism, related to his drinking problems which in turn stemmed from the difficulties he experienced in his life.

At an inquest at Winchester coroners court on Monday, February 3, Mr Fyfe’s family paid tribute to him.

His brother, Allan, said: “My brother was a very intelligent, determined and driven individual. He excelled both academically and physically and at everything he put his mind to.

“It’s our fervent belief as a family that Andrew did not want to die or did not intend to die,” he added.

“We miss him terribly.”

The inquest heard that Mr Fyfe, who was born in Scotland, lived a “full and fulfilled life” and had a “very loving and supportive” family around him. However, a “chain of circumstances” led to him distancing himself from his family and support networks.

His marriage broke down in 2016, and he was also made redundant from his job at Simply Health. He was separated from his family and his mother and father, both still living in Scotland, had fallen ill, plus he was experiencing financial difficulties and had been disqualified from driving.

He turned to alcohol, the inquest heard, drinking up to 15 pints a day.

Mr Wilkinson concluded: “It is apparent that over a number of months, and spanning really the period from the beginning of 2018 to September 2019, Andrew Fyfe began struggling with a number of significant issues in his life.

“It included his recent divorce, the separation from his family, financial difficulties and other significant difficulties concerning the health of his parents and other difficulties he was experiencing in his life. It is clear that as a result of that he had turned to alcohol to try to numb the pain.”

He had regular contact with the mental health team and had self-admitted to hospital on a number of occasions.

In July he overdosed twice, and on the second occasion he was transferred to a hospital in London before being discharged. It was noted that he was “given the support and signposting” to try to seek help, and that efforts were made by the mental health team to “help him onto the stable path to recovery”.

He was said to have made improvements in his life in the weeks leading up to his death, and had lined up a new job at Nationwide, was going to the gym and was planning to move back to Swindon to be nearer his children.

“It is apparent, however,” said Mr Wilkinson, “that in the last two weeks of his life, for whatever reason, he had returned to using alcohol.”

Officers had attended Mr Fyfe’s address on September 8 to complete a welfare check, but there was no answer at his property. They returned on September 13, which is when his body was found.

His body was in an “advanced state of decomposition” but Mr Wilkinson concluded that “on the balance of probabilities” he died of natural causes as a result of chronic alcoholism, which stemmed from the difficulties he was facing.