AN inquest has heard how a father died of pneumonia.

Colin Hazeldine, of Beaucroft Road, Waltham Chase, died at his home on November 27 last year.

Winchester Coroner’s Court heard how the 65-year-old had a history of alcoholism and depression, but that his GP said he had detoxed to come off alcohol a year before his death.

Toxicology reports found a small level of alcohol in Mr Hazeldine’s urine – 14 milligrams per 100 millilitres – and raised levels of ketone, 1.43mmol/l of blood, indicating significant ketoacidosis, a lifethreatening condition associated with both diabetes and alcohol abuse.

It involves the body burning fat for energy instead of glucose, making the blood acidic. Levels of 0.53mmol/l have been associated with death, making this three times the potentially toxic level, the inquest heard.

A post-mortem found the cause of death to be pneumonia, but deputy coroner for Central Hampshire Simon Burge said it would appear that high levels of ketone, indicating ketoacidosis, contributed and that a history of alcohol abuse was a secondary cause.

He recorded a verdict of death due to natural causes.