Tragic death of talented former engineer and teacher from Wolverhampton
A 'talented' engineer and teacher died at home but was only found when police forced entry after being alerted by his son, an inquest heard.
Albert Gutteridge from Wolverhampton had told family members not to come and visit him as his health deteriorated in the build up to his death on September 6, the coroner heard.
But when relatives took it upon themselves to visit him at his home after he sent a text message saying he was having trouble with movement and was not himself, they had no response, but heard a radio on at the property and left a note.
After getting no response a second time, son Philip Gutteridge visited his 87-year-old's father's home in Farrington Road, Woodcross, again, this time calling for assistance from the police after fearing the worst.
Upon entry, Mr Gutteridge said that the home was in a poor state, with unopened bags containing vegetables that had rotted, despite being sealed.
He said: "The last contact I had with my father was through text messages sent on July 27.
"He had always insisted on coming to visit us and other family members rather than having people come over to him. I had a text saying no visits please during the course of the school holidays.
"He said I am not feeling myself, I am having trouble getting about and I am short of breath, do not come visiting.
"I visited a few weeks later, there was no answer but I could hear the radio on and I left a note."
An inquest at the Black Country Coroners Court at Jack Judge House in Oldbury was told by Mr Gutteridge that his father, who was known by friends and relatives as Ted, had spent a large portion of his career as a high end engineer and was self-educated in the discipline.
He also taught art and geography later on in life and had a wide variety of educational books stored in his house.
His health had been hit by a heart attack in 1980.
He had had a triple bypass operation in 1996.
He also suffered with seasonal affective disorder, which his son said 'seriously affected him' during the autumn and winter months.
On September 6, police forced entry into his home to find him dead, with his cause of death unascertainable due to decomposition.
Son Philip said: "I went in the home with a police officer and it was clear straight away what we were going to find.
"The house was in a terrible state but in his bedroom he had his best clothes laid out to a military standard, that was something that he took pride in."
Coroner Zafar Siddique delivered a verdict of death by natural causes and said: "This is a sad set of circumstances and I offer my greatest condolences to the family.
"From what I have heard, he was both a talented and forward thinking man."
