Mystery surrounds the death of a civil servant who died after choking on his own vomit, an inquest had heard.

Andrew Moore, of Washington Road, Worcester Park, was found by police at home on August 1 after he stopped answering his phone and his family became concerned.

The 55-year-old, who was battling with alcoholism, had spoken to a family member three days before his death where he had promised to stop drinking.

A post mortem confirmed no alcohol or drugs were found in his system and Coroner Dr Roy Palmer said it was highly unusual for someone to die in that way without being under the influence of something.

He also said there was evidence of a neurological condition which would ordinarily suppress a “gag reflex” - the body’s defence mechanism against choking.

Pathologist Dr Peter Wilkins said there was no evidence of any heart disease and gave the official cause of death as “aspiration of gastric contents”

Dr Palmer, sitting at Croydon Coroner’s Court, said: “Sometimes the results of post mortems can be inconclusive. Quite why he aspired the gastric contents that night - I don’t know.

“The reason for the vomiting is unclear - he may have eaten something or possibly had a vomiting virus.”

Dr Palmer recorded a verdict of accidental death.