A popular cruise ship manager took his own life after drunkenly warning a colleague he 'could cause trouble' if he came out of his cabin, an inquest heard today.

Jozsef Szaller, from Hungary, was found hanged by crew members of the Carnival Breeze vessel after concerns were raised when no-one had seen him for two days.

Crew members entered the 28 year old's cabin through the balcony of the adjoining room after finding the door blocked, and discovered Mr Szaller with a belt around his neck.

The inquest, held via zoom from Winchester Coroner's Office, heard that Mr Szaller had no previous history of mental health problems, and was described by crew members as 'always being happy' and was said to have 'many friends' on board the ship.

The only other time friends had described his mood as being 'low', was when a woman he had liked had left the ship and decided not to return, though this was said to have happened some time before.

The hearing was told that the ship had been travelling from Miami in the United States back to Southampton, when Mr Szaller and some Hungarian colleagues had dinner and drinks on board the ship on the night of May 7 this year.

The group had each returned to their respective cabins at around 8pm, and Mr Szaller sent text messages to crew member Kitti Csada around two hours later, telling her he was 'very drunk' and saying 'if I leave my cabin I could cause trouble'.

Ms Csada then responded telling him to join her, but did not respond to a subsequent message asking her 'where'.

The ships' security were informed of concerns for Mr Szaller's wellbeing on the morning of May 9, after he had failed to attend daily temperature checks on board the ship since his last check two days before.

They were unable to gain entry to the room with the master key, as something was blocking the door, and a strange odour could be smelt coming from the room.

Mr Stole Trpeski, who was responsible for the health checks of the crew, reached through a small opening of the door and felt a body.

He reached in and shook the limp body's shoulder, and after several vigorous shakes a belt fell to the floor.

Crew security then entered the room through the balcony of the room next door, climbing onto the balcony of Mr Szaller's room and gaining entry through the unlocked door.

He was propped up against his front door and was instantly recognised by crew as having long been deceased.

Toxicology reports undertaken when the ship later docked in Southampton on May 10 revealed that Mr Szaller had around three times the alcohol limit for driving in the UK in his body, though this could have been higher at the time of his death.

Senior coroner for Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton, Christopher Wilkinson, said: "The evidence I have been given is sufficient to suggest that it is more likely than not that Mr Szaller took his own life.

"It is entirely possible that he was experiencing a period of low mood. He was coming to the end of two week journey from Miami, and it is possible that this journey, coupled with feelings of rejection made him turn to alcohol.

"There is no evidence of any note or explanation of Mr Szaller's actions, though the alcohol may well have influenced his lack of clarity.

"I would like to express my condolences to his family, who were unable to attend today.

"I cannot begin to imagine the distress this must have caused, particularly having not seen him for some time."

Mr Wilkinson recorded a ruling of suicide.