A retired engineer who died at his home in February took his own life, an inquest heard.

David John Greenwell, of Mallard Way, Watford, was found dead on February 2. A coroner recorded the cause of death as suicide.

The inquest, which concluded on Wednesday (August 26) at The Old Courthouse, Hatfield, heard that Mr Greenwell, 70, had attended an increasing number of hospital appointments.

Background information provided by Mr Greenwell’s GP revealed he had been feeling stressed, but the doctor did not recall him showing any signs of being suicidal.

According to a report from Hertfordshire Constabulary, Mr Greenwell was found by his brother-in-law when he visited the property on February 2 to check up on him, having not heard from him for around a week.

The police report revealed contents of a note that was found in the property indicated that Mr Greenwell’s health was deteriorating.

The report added that there was no evidence to suggest anyone had harmed Mr Greenwell.

Geoffrey Sullivan, senior coroner for Hertfordshire, told the hearing: “The background seems to be that (Mr Greenwell) was having to go to an increasing number of hospital appointments, which he clearly did not like, and having various examinations and so on done.

“It also appears that his health was something he was arguably more concerned about than he needed to be, but something playing on his mind. He did not really discuss that sort of thing with his family.”

Mr Sullivan said the increasing frustration with the medical investigations, along with the way in which Mr Greenwell died, led him to conclude that the cause of death was suicide.