Bristol man took own life after wife's illness

A former Rolls-Royce engineer whose body was found in a south Bristol park took his own life, a coroner has ruled.

Alan Smart, from Knowle, had a history of mental health problems going back 30 years.

An inquest was told that on September 15, 2007, his body was found in Victoria Park in Totterdown with a noose around his neck.

Flax Bourton Coroners' Court heard that 48-year-old Mr Smart, who was bipolar, had suffered repeated periods of depression.

He became depressed again after his wife Joy was diagnosed with lung cancer. In a statement, Mrs Smart said after she began chemotherapy, her husband told her he found it difficult to cope.

Assistant deputy coroner Terence Moore said circumstances indicated he took his own life "while the balance of his mind was disturbed".