The family of a man who died of severe epilepsy has given his brain to medical research in a bid to help others suffering from the condition and autism.

A Bradford inquest was told today that Martin Linney, 23, had been found dead in bed by his mother at their Wibsey home.

A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Linney’s death had probably been caused by an abnormal fatal heartbeat brought on by his severe epilepsy.

His family agreed to allow his brain to be used for medical research three days after he died.

Before his death Mr Linney had been to see a neurosurgeon at St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, because he had suffered increased fits.

The month before he died he had suffered about 30 fits on a single day and medics advised his family the condition was difficult to control.

Although Mr Linney had experienced a fit the day before his death he had gone to bed as normal the next night but was discovered the following morning by his mother at their home in Grayshon Drive.

Post-mortem tests could not determine whether he suffered a sustained epileptic seizure when he died.

Consultant histo-pathologist Dr Patrick Waugh, who works at Bradford Royal Infirmary, told Mr Linney’s family who were in court that the most likely cause of their son’s death would have been a sudden abnormal heartbeat, not uncommon in epilepsy.

In recording a verdict of natural causes, Mr Whittaker said of Mr Linney’s unexpected death: “Martin would have known nothing of this which I hope is some comfort to the family in what is a comfortless situation.”