Pensioner, 89, shielding with his wife in lockdown left her suicide notes then hanged himself after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, inquest hears

A pensioner who was shielding during the coronavirus lockdown left suicide notes for his wife before he hanged himself following a Parkinson's diagnosis, a coroner has heard.

The body of retired company director Anthony Bull was discovered by his wife Margaret in their garage just three days before his 89th birthday.

Despite having told her he wanted to kill himself, the inquest was told how she did not believe that he could carry out the threat due to his deteriorating health.

Assistant coroner Dr Karen Henderson heard how a district nurse arrived at his home in Farnham, Surrey, to change his leg bandages when his wife explained that she had found him hanged.

It was explained that the elderly woman was so shocked following the grim discovery that instead of calling 999, she decided to call her GP who advised her to call police.

Just three days before his 89th birthday, the body of retired company director Anthony Bull was discovered by his wife Margaret in their garage, Woking Coroner's Court heard

In a statement, the nurse confirmed that Mr Bull had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease which had been rapidly getting worse and the pair had been shielding during the coronavirus pandemic.

She told the hearing: 'I attended Mr Bull's home to change the bandages on his legs, but when I arrived his wife explained that she had come down that morning at 10am and could not find him in the house, upstairs or downstairs.

'His wife had gone out to the garage and found him hanging. She did not know what to do so she called the GP who told her to call police.'

Margaret Bull told emergency services how her husband had suffered from depression and he had made references that he was planning to kill himself but she 'did not believe he had the ability to do so because of his health conditions.'

Several typed notes had been found around the body, reflecting Mr Bull's wishes to end his life, the management of his financial affairs and funeral arrangements.

In a particular note, Anthony had written to his wife warning her not to enter the garage but to instead call 999 straight away, which she did not do.

Sitting at Woking Coroner's Court, Dr Henderson said: 'Anthony Bull died on August 5 at his home address this year, from suspension. He had a reduction in mobility and recent health conditions. There was evidence of planning and he left subsistent notes.

'I am satisfied that sadly he ended his life by way of suicide.'