A “loner” who struggled with an alcohol problem was found dead by a friend at his home Amersham, an inquest heard this week.

The body of Paul Brendan Adams, 55, was discovered at his home in Chiltern Heights on the morning of April 19.

Mr Adams, who had a history of alcoholism, had no contact with friends or family near the time of his death and died alone in his bedroom.

Stephen Gill, a friend of Mr Adams, told the inquest that Mr Adams “had an issue with alcohol”, saying that he consumed more than 150 units a week of almost totally beer.

Mr Gill, who works at St. Aiden’s Church Amersham, visited Mr Adams every once week, helping him with his shopping, taking him to doctors’ appointments and “keeping an eye on issues”.

Mr Gill, who was quite familiar with Mr Adams towards the end of his life, said he was prescribed medicine by his GP but “loathed” to take it, adding “he preferred beer to vegetables”.

Mr Gill told the court: “Friday the 15th that was the last time I saw him.”

He concluded that he was possibly the last person to see him alive.

He said when he went to visit Mr Adams for a usual check up on April 19 he could see beer in the window, which he confirmed as “unusual” saying he would have gone out and got some more.

PC Gillian Gillespie said there was nothing to suggest he wanted to kill himself and nothing about the death seemed particularly suspicious.

Mr Adams was found at 9.45 am, had intention of harming himself, and there was no involvement of a third party.

Coroner Chrispin Butler concluded that Mr Adams death was “unexpected” and due to “alcohol abuse and early stages of pneumonia.”