Widower killed himself with overdose of wife’s painkillers

A WIDOWER killed himself using painkillers prescribed to his late wife when she had cancer just months after her death, an inquest heard.

Estate agent Adam Thompson, 39, was said to be heartbroken after caring for his wife Lucy, 44, during her fiveyear ordeal with breast cancer.

Mr Thompson was found on Oct 10 last year at his home in Mulbarton, Norfolk, after his family had become concerned that he had not arrived for work that day, Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard.

Father-of-three Mr Thompson, a former police officer, had run the Reality estate agent firm in Norwich with his wife before she died last June.

The inquest heard that his life had “hit an all-time low” over the loss of a close family member, and his pet dog, near the time of his wife’s death.

His medical cause of death was given as cocaine and opioid toxicity. A tribute from his family read out at the inquest said: “Adam was loving, kind, and caring; a loving, devoted father, son, brother, and husband.”

He was devoted to his wife Lucy throughout their 11 years together. She was “everything” to Mr Thompson, the family said. “Adam was so devastated with losing his wife. He would say he did not know how to go on without Lucy. He just wanted to be with her.

The statement continued: “Lucy wanted to spend her last days at home and the doctor gave her painkiller medication, which remained at the house. Adam had access to all of this medication and four months after Lucy passed away, he used all of Lucy’s medication to take his own life feeling he had no other options.”

Norfolk Area Coroner Yvonne Blake recorded a conclusion that Mr Thompson died by suicide.