A family today warned that anyone battling with alcohol addiction should seek urgent help before it's too late.
Maureen Hodges was devastated when her husband, Peter, died after he collapsed at their Frinton home.
Her daughters, Wendy and Anna, have been deprived of a father and their children, a grandfather. The 61-year-old was discovered at the property in Elm Tree Avenue by a gardener and, despite the efforts of paramedics, died in the ambulance before he could be taken to hospital.
A post-mortem examination showed he died from a severe fatty liver.
Essex coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray found that death was due to natural causes.
After the inquest, the family spoke to the Gazette in the hope that it might just save other lives.
In a joint statement, they said Mr Hodges was a loving and kind husband and father who lived for his family. He also enjoyed his work as a management consultant.
"Sadly, in the last years of his life, he became gripped by an addiction to alcohol, which he was unable to conquer," they said.
"This completely changed his personality and the man we all loved very much became lost to us. "If any good can come out of his death, we hope what happened to Peter might prompt people with similar problems to seek help as soon as possible. Alcoholism is a disease of denial and often admitting the problem is half the battle."
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Tuesday, November 15, 2005
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