A MAN mourning the loss of a friend took his own life a coroner has recorded.

Kane Stedman, 35, had stayed overnight at a friend's house in St John's Road, Epping, on July 30, 2009, and was found hanged the next day, Chelmsford Coroners Court heard.

There were no suspicious circumstances, and a post-mortem gave the cause of his death as suspension.

A toxicology report revealed an alcohol level twice the legal drink-drive limit and traces of cocaine in his bloodstream.

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “That might have affected the way he was thinking a bit, but he did have quite a history of taking alcohol.”

Mrs Beasley-Murray also noted that Mr Stedman, who was born in and lived in Epping, had in 2008 made two previous attempts to kill himself through overdoses.

She said: “It's very likely he was very upset when a close friend took her life in July 2009. He had made previous attempts. In light of that evidence I have come to the very sad conclusion he intended to take his own life.”