A CORONER has expressed his sympathies with the family of an elderly couple who died on the same day.

The bodies of Jim Groves and his wife Gwen were discovered at their home in Maybury Close, Petts Wood, on May 13.

Retired carpenter Mr Groves was found by his son James lying face down between the hallway and the kitchen with several empty whisky bottles by his side.

A post-mortem examination carried out by a forensic pathologist the following day found he had 310mg of alcohol per 100mg of blood - which is almost four times the legal drink-drive limit.

Mrs Groves, 78, was discovered lying on her back on a bed in a bedroom nearby by her son-in-law Kevin Dobson, who had been called to the house by James.

Croydon Coroner's Court heard Mr Groves was devoted to his wife and had trouble sleeping because he was depressed about her Alzheimer's, which had led to her being moved into a care home.

His doctor had prescribed him sleeping pills but these had no real effect because he was so stressed about not living with his wife.

The 79-year-old visited her in Benedict House, the care home where she lived in Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, and used to take her out when the weather was good and for occasional overnight stays.

In a written statement read out at the inquest on October 12, Mr Dobson said: "After she became ill Jim looked after her 24 hours a day and was totally devoted to her.

"He visited her every day and it almost became an obsession."

Mr Dobson added: "When I saw Gwen she looked as if she had died naturally and she was at peace."

Recording a verdict of death by natural causes for Mrs Groves and death by misadventure for her husband, Coroner Dr Roy Palmer said: "What we will never know is who died first.

"One possible scenario is she had a lie down and died of natural causes and Mr Groves found her and was terribly distressed.

"My personal sympathies on the loss of both parents."