A man found dead down an embankment at the back of a bus stop after a night out had been drinking more heavily than usual after the sudden death of his son, an inquest heard.

Ivor Spink, who was 79 and from West Terrace, Ilkley, had been drinking rum shots as well as pints at Hollygarth Social Club, in Ilkley, the night before his body was found in October last year by police.

It was after his worried family reported him missing next day police searched his route home from his regular Saturday night and found the retired painter and decorator face down in muddy ground in Coutances Way.

A post mortem showed Mr Spink, who had been hit hard by his son’s recent death from a heart attack, had suffered cardiac failure.

Medical tests revealed the actual amount of alcohol in his system, the equivalent of about five pints, did not cause his death but it would have made it difficult for him to get help or survive the attack, the Bradford inquest was told yesterday.

Mr Spink’s friend of more than 40 years, John Fawcett, who had been out with him and another friend at the club, told the inquest in a written statement Mr Spink, who looked after ponds for a local fishing club, had always been a drinker but had drunk more since the death of his son. He said he put the drinking of spirits “down to Ivor’s depression.”

Two weeks before Mr Spink’s death, Mr Fawcett said he had also been told by Mr Spink’s daughter her dad had been out in Burley and fallen through a glass door after drinking.

The last time Mr Fawcett saw Mr Spink “he was no more drunk than normal” he said in his statement but added: “he did have a double shot of rum before he left.”

Acting Bradford coroner Professor Paul Marks said it was known Mr Spink , who lived alone, had a drink problem but evidence heard showed since the tragic death of his son he had been drinking more heavily.

But he said there was no hint he had intended to take his own life and that his death was entirely due to natural causes.