A RETIRED firefighter took his own life for ‘unknown reasons’ after going out for a drink, an inquest heard.

Malcolm Clements, 74, was discovered in a shed near his allotment in Frizington on December 5 last year after his family reported him missing.

An inquest held at Cockermouth Coroners’ Court heard Mr Clements had worked at Sellafield and at the steelworks in Workington. He enjoyed rugby and going to his allotment.

He ‘adored’ his family and had been married for 54 years to his wife, Brenda Clements, who said her family would ‘never recover’ from what happened.

A statement from Derek Jackson was read to the inquest, which said he had been out for a couple of drinks at the Veterans Club in Frizington on December 4.

Mr Clements had arrived for a drink just after 9pm and they both stayed until about midnight.

They walked home together and Mr Jackson said there was ‘nothing out of the ordinary’. Mr Clements ‘appeared to be in good spirits’.

Mr Jackson discovered the next day that Mr Clements was missing.

Police arrived at Mr Clements’ home on Main Street in Frizington on the morning of December 5 following a missing person report.

Enquiries were carried out and Mr Clements’ son, Mark, said there was a garage which he had not checked.

A padlock on the garage was missing and there were concerns that Mr Clements was inside. Access was gained and Mr Clements was discovered. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Clements’ GP said he had no significant health issues or mental health conditions.

A post-mortem report gave the cause of death as hanging.

In her concluding statement, Margaret Taylor, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said as far as Mr Clements’ family were aware, he was a ‘happy man’.

The coroner said: “For reasons that remain unknown, he left his home address in hours of darkness, had gone to a shed near his allotment and took his own life.

“The only conclusion I can come to is one of suicide. He has taken very deliberate acts.”

Ms Taylor concluded that Mr Clements died by suicide.

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