A "good natured" recovering alcoholic died when the drainpipe he was climbing to gain entry to his rehabilitation centre collapsed.

Walthamstow Coroners Court heard today that Daniel Corby, 25, was living at Remar Association UK’s centre in High Road, Leytonstone, when he died from severe head injuries on August 25 last year.

Mr Corby joined the centre, run by the Christian charity which houses and provides work for people recovering from addiction, in December 2013.

Appearing in court today, manager of the association, David Martinez, said Mr Corby had left the building at around 11pm the night before his death because he wanted to visit his family.

He said that as the service is voluntary, people can leave at any time.

At around 6am on the morning of August 25, one of the other people living at the centre spotted Mr Corby lying on the ground outside the window.

As Mr Corby did not have keys for the centre and evidence suggested he had attempted to gain entry in the early hours through an open bathroom window, but the drain he was climbing detached from the wall and he fell onto his head.

Police and ambulance services were called and he was found "barely breathing", with swollen eyes and his left ear was bleeding.

He was airlifted to Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, where he later died.

A post-mortem report showed he died of severe head injuries.

Coroner Nadia Persaud ruled the death was an accident, with no evidence of suspicious circumstances.

She added it was an “unintended consequence of attempting to re-enter the premises.”

Speaking to the Guardian after the inquest, Mr Martinez spoke of Mr Corby's good nature.

He said: “He was a generally nice guy and he got along with everybody and never argued.

"He was going through a tough time like anyone does.

“He was with us for seven months and I believe he was on the way to recovery, so it is really sad this has happened.”