What A Way To Go

It's kind of sad when the manner of your death overshadows the life you led, but oh well, that's life...

Ex-milkman drowned in his dog's water bowl following an epileptic fit

A former milkman may have downed after he fell face down into his dog's water bowl following an epileptic fit, an inquest heard.

Kim Cinderby, 51, had not been taking his epilepsy medication in the days leading up to his death.

Pathologist Dr Linmarie Ludeman told the Gloucestershire inquest: 'There were signs of drowning and he was found face down in a bowl.'

Mr Cinderby was found dead at his home in Littledean, Forest of Dean, by his friend and neighbour Robin Lancet.

He told Coroner Alan Crickmore that they had been friends for the past 18 years and used to drink together in local pubs.

Mr Lancet said: "For five years I have checked on him every morning and night because of his epilepsy and I have a key to his front door.

'On June 8, I saw him at 8pm and he seemed fine. The next morning I went to check on him at 8am and could not get front door open because his key was on the inside.

'I heard his dog barking and took the emergency key kept in a keybox to go in through the back door.

'Kim was in the kitchen face down on the floor with his face in the dog's drinking water bowl. I tried to move him but realised he had died.'

Pathologist Dr Linmarie Ludeman said: 'Tests showed there were no drugs or alcohol in his system.

'Death could have been caused by sudden death in epilepsy, or by a sudden heart arrhythmia either of which would be a natural cause.

'There were signs of drowning and he was found face down in a bowl which could have occurred as part of a fit.'

The coroner was told that nothing suspicious had been found at the house and police were satisfied no-one else had been involved in the death.

Mr Cinderby's GP Dr Hannah Deer said he had reduced his medication himself this year and it was then changed, with a prescription for tablets to be taken morning and night.

Moral of the story: take your meds.