A LOVING sister has paid tribute to a man who lay dead in Dartford Heath bushes for days.

An inquest at Gravesend Town Hall into the death of Andrew Ebanks recorded an open verdict as there was no obvious indicator as to how he died.

The 40-year-old, who had been depressed, was found 13 miles from the Nunhead home he shared with his sister Sharon.

Mr Ebanks was found by a member of the public in Shepherds Lane on September 28 but it was not known how long he had been there.

Postman Steven Sewell, of Roman Road, Bexleyheath described finding the body.

He said: “I deliver in the Dartford area and I saw a man believed to be sleeping rough in Dartford Heath.

“I had seen him before and he carried a pillow with him and had matted brown hair.

“I spoke to my colleague about it and a few days later, he was still in the bushes and so I went to check to see all was well.

“It was obvious he was deceased.”

News Shopper: Sister's tribute to dead man found in Dartford Heath: 'I miss him every day'

Sister Sharon Ebanks told News Shopper she thinks about her brother Anthony everyday.

Speaking after the inquest said: “He was a very lovely person.

“He just took the death of our mother really badly. He just could not recover.             

“He lived with me and so I miss him every day.

“A depressed person can be quite hard work and you try your best to help them.”

She added: “I loved him a lot and I really tried but sometimes love is just not enough.”

Detective Sergeant Shelly Chantler told the court: “The death of his mother had affected him badly and he had lost his job and his home. His sister had supported him.

“His sister said he was quiet and did not have friends and kept himself to himself. He did not claim benefits.

“He would disappear sometimes for days at a time.

“He enjoyed walking around the local area.

“Where he was found was not far from their cousin and she thinks he might have been going to see the relative.”

The post-mortem examination, carried out at Darent Valley Hospital, gave the cause of death as ‘unascertained’.

Coroner Roger Hatch said: “Unfortunately we do not know how his death came about.

“I have no alternative but to return an open verdict.”