A FATHER of four from Abbots Langley committed suicide by overdosing on drugs that were prescribed for his heart, an inquest heard on Friday, January 24.

Mr Paul Shrimpton, who would be 50 next month, died in Watford General on Wednesday, July 24, after being admitted two days earlier.

Ambulance technician Mr Chris Barker said: "We found him with an extremely low pulse rate at a dangerous level - low to mid 30s, in a normal male it is 80-100."

The family were living together but Mr Shrimpton and his wife Susan had been discussing divorce.

The court heard how Mr Shrimpton had been getting on well with his family the day before the incident. When his children went to bed he kissed them and said 'God bless' which his wife said was unusual.

Mrs Shrimpton rang her son Robert mid-morning the next day to wake his father. He could not wake him.

Their daughter Kelly rushed home, opened the curtains and found suicide notes to each of the family. She phoned an ambulance and as a qualified first aider, followed their instructions.

Dr Rubin recorded cause of death as adult respiratory distress syndrome, anetolol overdose and coronary artery disease which was a significant underlying cause.

Coroner Edward Thomas said: "The notes make it clear that Mr Shrimpton intended to commit suicide. He took an overdose of atenolol which was properly prescribed for a serious heart disease.

"These were tragic circumstances and there is nothing one can do to make it better."

January 27, 2003 19:00